In what will be a regular fortnightly column on Nub News from the local Frome MP, David Warburton writes about the way ahead. And how he is responding to around 500 emails every day.

The Frome and Somerton MP writes:

As we the prospect of a return to normality looms ever larger in our minds, I've been reflecting on the role of an MP during the unprecedented times we've been through.

And an MP's work consists of many entirely different strands. Some of these – public policy, voting in the House, legislation, supporting community or pressure groups, publicly seeking to help those excluded, taking a stance on national or international issues, speaking publicly or in the House of Commons – can be very public and noticeable. They're visible and often much commented on. Whereas other parts of an MP's work – working with local councils, schools, NHS facilities and GPs, supporting businesses, volunteer groups, liaising with police, transport networks and so much more – are rather less likely to find themselves illuminated by the media spotlight.

Then there is, for me, the most rewarding – but least visible – part of the role. Providing direct support to individual people. Those without support, those without anywhere to turn. And those who want to put across their viewpoint or understand my viewpoint. These can be through MP's surgeries (for the moment sadly virtual or by phone), or by email, letter, phone or message.

Of course, we have a political system which is adversarial – and, over recent years, increasingly vituperative in its conflation of political viewpoints and individual, personal morality. Political opposition will always be there, either organising opposition to an MP's views, actions, votes, speeches or – of course – the impossible-to-avoid ad hominem attack on the way the job itself is done. They say a politician needs to grow a thick skin and certainly (by necessity) some form of protection does seem to grow, but I think it's always important to understand the other's perspective. And of course it must be frustrating when much of what an MP does is out of view.

The largest town in my patch, Frome is in touch with me more than any other. I receive around 500 emails every day, with about a third of them from Frome (up from 500 or so a week prior to the pandemic). I've replied to almost 50,000 in the past six months alone. My office and I also receive around 50 phone calls (and many letters) each day from Frome residents, with problems to solve ranging from access to their children or landlord evictions, to self-employed Covid support or business grant help. Some of these are extremely serious, and people are often terribly upset and in desperate need of my help.

Very often, it's fabulous to be able not only to help, but to entirely resolve issues for people. This is such a rewarding part of my role – it's a real boost to have helped literally thousands of Frome residents in the past year – as reflected in the scores of cards and letters of thanks displayed in my office and at home.

Looking back, in the past few weeks, I've been able to help local people with universal credit and other benefits, social housing, council tax, planning, ASB problems, trouble with neighbours including drugs, police issues, school places, access to SEND help, child maintenance payments and Home Office immigration issues. Plus issues with HMRC, DVLA, banks, mortgage companies, traffic, parking, street furniture, litter, problems in new builds, environmental health enforcement, blocked drains, leaves and branches from other people's trees, bullying in school, maintenance of the cemetery, fly-grazing, travellers, access to mental health care, problems with hospital appointments, PPC protection and care home problems.

But the overriding issue is of course Covid, and our gradual escape from its grip. I'm confident that the vaccine rollout I've seen in action will finally bring us to that light at the end of the tunnel. The start of 2021 will, I believe, be very different to its end. We're on the right road!