What We’re Told. What’s True. And Why Kingswood Deserves Better.
Final leaflet drops this evening — after a month of walking every corner of Kingswood
Tonight I delivered the final cards and leaflets of this campaign. Over the past month, I’ve walked nearly every corner of this ward. Almost 6,000 leaflets have gone through letterboxes. Hundreds of conversations. Dozens of questions asked, answered, and carried with me. The sun was blazing this evening, and as I slid those final few through doors, I felt a twinge of something I didn’t expect: not exhaustion, but reflection. This community means a lot to me. And I’ve never been more certain that it deserves better.
Kingswood community centre, one of our local polling stations, earlier this afternoon — as the final few hundred campaign leaflets and cards were delivered in the heat
It deserves better than some of the promises being made this week. Because some of what you’ll have seen from party candidates is not just unrealistic — it’s misleading.
I want to end this campaign with honesty. If you’ve read my leaflets, you’ll know that’s been my approach from day one. So let’s take a clear-eyed look at what’s been said — and what’s actually true.
Claim: "We’ll fix the NHS locally." (Seen in Labour materials)
Reality: Local councillors do not control NHS budgets, staffing, or policy. That is set nationally. While councils do work with health boards and can advocate for services, no councillor in Kingswood or anywhere in North Northamptonshire can "fix" the NHS. Promising otherwise is not just optimistic — it’s a disservice to voters. And let’s be clear: these policies are set by party leaders in London. Why would their local councillors challenge that?
Claim: "We will stop anti-social behaviour and make our community safe." (Seen in both Labour and Reform materials)
Reality: Community safety is a joint effort involving local police, housing associations, the council, and residents themselves. Councillors can help coordinate efforts, push for better funding, and listen to residents' concerns. But they do not control policing priorities or enforcement. Anyone claiming to personally end crime and disorder is either overselling their power or misunderstanding it. Policing is directed from national government priorities, often shaped by central party leadership.
Claim: "We’ll sort the council's finances." (Seen in Labour and Reform materials)
Reality: Councils operate within extremely tight budgets, most of which are set by central government. The financial crisis in local government is not unique to North Northamptonshire. It’s a national issue. Good local councillors can advocate for smarter use of funds, challenge inefficiency, and seek external funding. But they cannot rewire the entire fiscal framework. And those frameworks are shaped and defended by the very parties whose candidates are now making promises to fix them.
Leaflets like these make big promises — but what’s realistic, and what’s not?
We all want better services. But slogans aren’t solutions. And easy promises are rarely honest ones.
What I’ve offered throughout this campaign is different: not a fantasy, but a commitment. A commitment to:
Listen first.
Speak truthfully.
Challenge quietly entrenched systems that shut good people out.
Push for smarter delivery, stronger connections, and real resilience in how we plan and serve this community.
These aren’t just critiques — they’re reminders of why I stood in the first place.
My pledges to Kingswood have been simple: accountability, visibility, and competence. That means no false promises, no disappearing after election day, and no pretending councils have powers they don’t. It means being present. Asking better questions. And doing the work — even when it’s hard, quiet, or thankless.
That might not make for flashy headlines. But it builds trust — the real foundation for change.
This evening I passed a polling station, the doors not yet open but the signs already up. It hit me: tomorrow, this is in your hands. I’m proud of the campaign we’ve run. It’s been honest, hopeful, and grounded. No gimmicks. Just effort. And faith in people.
There’s also a tinge of sadness as these walks come to an end. I’ve seen Kingswood more closely and more completely than ever before. I used to walk these streets as a paperboy for Fourboys Newsagents — but never with this kind of purpose. Never with this conviction.
This month I’ve walked them again in sunshine and rain, spoken with neighbours I hadn’t met, and listened to stories that will stay with me long after the election is over. It’s reminded me why this work matters.
So if you're tired of theatre, if you’re sceptical of slogans, and if you're ready for something different — I ask for one of your votes tomorrow.
Let’s raise the standard. Let’s build trust. Let’s do better.
Gary Campbell Independent Candidate for Kingswood Ward www.voiceforcorby.co.uk
Beanfield polling station tonight, as the sun set on this campaign. Tired, but proud — and ready for whatever tomorrow brings.
