I often think about the many conversations I had on the doorsteps of North Northumberland homes ahead of the 2024 election.

Lots of local pride came through, alongside a deep wish for more investment in our services and infrastructure after many years of decline.

Ahead of the autumn Budget, it’s these same key issues that I’ll be raising directly with the Chancellor of the Exchequer; decent education for every child, the transport infrastructure that could transform North Northumberland, tackling growing wealth inequality and a fair deal for family farms.

The Government spends around £1.3trillion a year, and some of this spending for the next few years is decided. The Budget is about where the money will come from next year, as well as spending that’s hard to predict in advance, like pensions and welfare.

It’s very unlikely we will hear anything directly on key priorities like the A1 and Berwick Academy, but it does tell us more about what pots of money are available for projects like these, so we can make our case.

No surprises with the A1. Sensible safety improvements around key junctions could make a huge difference and save lives. That decision is with the Department for Transport and due to be announced next spring. Like everyone else, I still want to see it dualled, but it’s going to take time.

Berwick Academy needs urgent maintenance and repair funding to maintain the school in the short-term and help support pupils in the meantime. If we can get the rebuild kickstarted it could transform the town and the lives of thousands of children. They need to know the country agrees - they deserve so much better than mouldy toilets.

I’m keen to see a better way forward when it comes to Inheritance Tax, especially in relation to our local family farmers. I’ve raised this issue before and urged the government to look again at the CenTax proposals, which would place the burden back on the broadest shoulders – large passive investors and non-farming landowners.

This is so important, and representative of a wider issue. We need to place the highest burden of tax on the right people and organisations to prevent wealth sitting with a handful of people, while ordinary working men and women of this country wonder how to fill the fridge.

The Budget will be on TV on Wednesday (Nov 26th ) and anyone can watch. It will be a key insight into Labour’s strategy for turning this country around. Rachel Reeves has pledged £113billion for new capital investment to date – which means investment in homes, transport and energy. That means tough choices all round but is the only option if we want to rebuild the foundations of this country.

Until then, I’d urge you not to be dragged around by some of the inevitable headlines. As is so often the case, it’s the work that happens after the budget which will make a real difference to our daily lives.

I’ll be doing full updates on my website before and after if you want somewhere calm to digest what is happening and what it means for North Northumberland.