On the 5th June I will be hosting my next Advice Surgery at Waitrose in East Wichel between 10.30am and 12pm. Please come along if you would like to have a chat or if you would like to ask me any questions – there is no appointment necessary. I look forward to seeing you there!

At the beginning of the General Election campaign, I bought a new pair of trainers. Looking at them last weekend, I could see they were very worn!

This will be my final column for the Adver before the start of ‘purdah’ – the period before an election when there are legal restrictions on what can be published.  I have always been careful not to use this weekly article to indulge in Punch & Judy politics.

This afternoon George Osborne will announce the final Budget before the general election. The Chancellor will set out his plans for tax and spending, and a whole raft of measures that will have a direct effect on all of us. 

Swindon made national news on Monday when the government announced that bids for two new secondary schools here had been successful.  We’re the only town to achieve that distinction in this latest round of the free schools programme. 

There are many ways of judging the performance of Swindon’s economy.  The obvious criteria – things like employment statistics and retail figures – are all looking positive, and have been for some time. 

Swindon MP’s Justin Tomlinson & Robert Buckland joined patients, carers and MPs from across the political parties in Parliament yesterday, Wednesday 25 February, for the launch of the British Lung Foundation’s (BLF) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patient experience report.

This week we have had an important and very welcome announcement about so-called ‘pensioner benefits’. David Cameron confirmed that as long as he is Prime Minister, the free bus pass, TV licence and winter fuel payment will all be protected. 

We have some excellent voluntary and charity organisations in Swindon, offering help, advice and support across a wide range of issues.  However, accessing all their valuable services hasn’t always been straightforward, especially for people without the internet. 

On Monday 16th February, we were delighted to welcome Robert Buckland MP to our rehabilitation centre in Upper Stratton.