03/11/2026
When I became a politician, I was completely unused to the constant turmoil, upheaval, and dealing with the apparent constant crises, attacks, and criticisms.
It seemed that the entire political world was supercharged and there was no way I could possibly keep up. In every direction was a risk, an opposition attack, a manufactured scandal, a complaint, a nasty social media message and… sadly so much more than that.
Alas, with time comes experience. A great man once said, “There is no problem too complex, no crisis so grave, that it cannot be satisfactorily resolved within 20 minutes.”
This is pure truth.
After a time, one begins to realise that…
Most crises are deliberate noise.
Most “scandals” originate from fatigue or slight misjudgment.
Most attacks serve a political purpose.
Most threats are just pressure
And no criticism is made by the opposition which does not politically benefit them.
Once that becomes the new norm, really, it all falls into place!
Our job as politicians is to do the very best that we can do with the resources and mandate we are given.
Over the last year this administration has achieved:
✅ £60 million annual savings from our efficiency review
✅ £44 million annually from our Better Leicestershire Programme
✅ £45 million in internal efficiencies
✅ £7 million underspent – put straight back in
✅ £2 million into flooding defences
✅ Scrapped net stupid zero
✅ A Real-terms council tax cut
✅ £127 million into frontline services
✅ £270 million into road maintenance
✅ £29 million ring-fenced for potholes
✅ £58 million into children’s services
✅ £30 million of that into SEND
✅ £20 million into Adult Social Care
✅ EHCP wait times slashed from 58 weeks to 18
✅ Banded EHCPs and a brand new SEND Strategy
✅ Brand new Carers’ Strategy
✅ Zouch Bridge
✅ Pork Pie Way (£124 million)
✅ A511 improvements
✅ Debt at its lowest level in RECORDED HISTORY!
✅ £80 million of Tory debt repaid
✅ Support for our farmers
✅ Record first-choice school places
✅ Brand new Rural Strategy
✅ A million big new trees planned
✅ Woke flags binned – proper patriotic flags flying high
✅ Staff back to work and getting on with the job
✅ “Positive” discriminatory recruitment practice ended
✅ Ushered in the GOLDEN AGE of Leicestershire.
And so much more!
Our accounts are tidy. Our vulnerable are protected. Our progress is unfathomable. Our story continues.
Now, with a new Leader, the administration can look forward to continuing and building upon our outstanding record.
We will continue to smash the records. We will continue to protect vital services. We will not rest.
It has been a pleasure and an honour to have served in this administration both as Cabinet Member for Health & Public Health, and latterly as Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care.
However, after serving for 18 months as a member of this outstanding Cabinet, and all the responsibility that comes with senior elected office, as well as the flak, the attacks, the constant upheaval, the fake news, and the relentless correspondence and emails, I have decided that now is the time for me to redouble my efforts and I can confirm that as a Cabinet Member, I and the administration will continue to beat the opposition’s record for a THIRD and FOURTH year!
Whatever the challenge, whatever the setback, whatever time it takes…
Reform politicians will never rest and will never tire of winning for you, our dearest constituents.
Let’s look forward to a second GOLDEN AGE next year ❤️
—
Your Favourite Councillor
Michael Squires - Reform UK
