Bonfire night continues to be an important part of our annual celebrations. As the clock goes back and early nights close in, it brings families and friends together, just as it has for the last 400 years, writes Bradford South MP Judith Cummins.

And, for the vast majority of residents in Bradford who enjoy the night sensibly, it can be a spectacular and enjoyable evening whether at home or at one of the many professionally organised events held across the city.

However, people in Bradford know only too well the disruptive impact that the thoughtless minority can have who use the bonfire period as nothing more than an excuse to take part in unacceptable anti-social behaviour and the misuse of fireworks.

Many groups in Bradford, as well as national organisations like the RSPCA, continue to call for fairer firework use. In the last Parliament, I campaigned on ending the blight of year-round fireworks misuse and the horrific impact this was having on residents and their pets by calling on the government to make fireworks quieter.

And ahead of Bonfire Night, I joined West Yorkshire Police on the beat for an evening patrol to support their work first hand.

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins is concerned about anti-social fireworks useBradford South MP Judith Cummins is concerned about anti-social fireworks use (Image: Supplied) Bonfire week is one of the most challenging periods for our emergency services. During the patrol, I saw how a multitude of agencies and organisations, including the Police, Fire Service, Council, community groups, and bus service providers have all been planning for months to deal with any incidents of anti-social behaviour as quickly as possible, to ensure communities across Bradford are free to enjoy Bonfire Night.

In practice, this means more beat patrols, extra youth activity sessions, and even the use of ‘trojan buses’ – seemingly normally run services staffed by plain clothes police officers looking to catch out anti-social behaviour in the run up to the Bonfire period.

I welcome the monumental amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to make sure we can all enjoy a safe bonfire night.

Of course, the history of Bonfire Night is closely entwined with the history of Parliament and the United Kingdom’s democratic way of life.

And, as part of my role as Commons Deputy Speaker, I recently took a tour of the cellars of the House of Commons. Safe to say, there was a distinct lack of barrels, but a plaque remains, marking the location and date of the failed Gunpowder Plot in autumn of 1605. Even today, tradition demands that, ahead of every State Opening of Parliament, the King’s Yeoman of the Guard inspect the cellars of Parliament before his Speech.

This autumn saw another important Parliamentary event – the Chancellor’s budget statement. This a chance for the government to set out its assessment of the country’s fiscal position, and to outline its plans for the economy over the coming year and beyond.

Last week’s budget, delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, was particularly historic. Not only was it the first of the new government, and the first Labour budget in 14 years, it was the first statement in the UK’s 800-year history of budgets to be delivered by a woman Chancellor.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her first Budget Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her first Budget

The Chancellor described it as ‘fixing the foundations of the economy – and delivering on the promise of change.’ As Deputy Speaker, it was an immense privilege to chair what, as you might expect, was a very robust debate, making sure that MPs from all parties and all parts of the United Kingdom had the opportunity to share their constituents’ views.

The budget itself included a number of measures that will affect people across Bradford. Some key announcements included a significant uplift in the minimum wage to £12.21 an hour, as well as an increase in the earning’s limit for Carer’s Allowance. The Chancellor also announced investments of over £22 billion in the day-to-day budget for the NHS – the biggest since 2010, and a £2 billion increase on school budgets and a tripling of spending on breakfast clubs.

At a time when the UK is facing threats from abroad and a challenging economic environment at home, people in Bradford need a budget that tackles the immediate issues and challenges they are facing, and one that lays the groundworks for future stability and sustained economic growth.

Just as they did on Bonfire Night over four hundred years ago, decisions made in Parliament continue to impact our everyday lives and shape the country’s future. However you choose to mark this evening, I wish you and your family a safe and enjoyable celebration.