Just over a year into being your representative, I have to say there have been many, many highlights.

From starting the Clacton Business Surgery, a new date is coming, to helping save Sandy’s Farm and championing our wonderful piers, it’s been a privilege.

Then there’s the drama that often unfolds at Prime Minister’s Questions or during votes in Parliament; being involved in leading a national political party that’s risen to the top of the opinion polls; and the endless stream of invitations I receive from constituents and local charities.

I do my best to attend as many visits as I can, as you will know from reading this column.

There are many, of course, that time sadly doesn’t permit. But I can honestly, genuinely say that I’ve been greeted very warmly by a very large number of people throughout the constituency.

The downside of public life is that literally everything you do comes under close scrutiny, and unless you’ve been hiding under a stone, you will have found it difficult to avoid the recent argument that has arisen over a property in the local area.

I promised you that if I won, I would spend time in the constituency.

So my partner bought a house here, and we enjoy being surrounded by the generosity and warmth of the local community.

This has led to front-page stories in certain national newspapers suggesting that somehow the correct amount of stamp duty has not been paid.

Well, I can assure everybody that every ‘i’ has been dotted and every ‘t’ has been crossed, and that before long this story will simply go away.

But if you put your head above the parapet, I guess you can’t complain when you get criticism and the going gets tough.

Undeterred, I will carry on doing my utmost to be your Member of Parliament, spending time here with the very people who elected me, and continue to lead Reform UK — which the bookmakers say is now the favourite to win the next general election.