What had last week’s G20 summit got to do with us?

It’s a fair question. As world leaders and celebrities mingled and protestors vented their spleens at the bankers, what was the meeting all about and how does it affect High Peak?

Sceptics said there would be no agreement on the key issues but the outcome exceeded all expectations. There was a consensus on helping poorer countries, injecting money into our financial systems and, most important of all, agreeing tighter and universal rules on banking and international finance.

Without that agreement, the global economy would be less fair, less stable and less productive. Our Prime Minister has done very well to pull together diverse and competing interests into such a solid agreement.

It is clear that the global economic crisis has to have a global solution. The G20 has taken us a long way in that direction. You could tell by the immediate response of the stock market that the financial world recognises this. Other indicators also point to signs of recovery ahead.

As for High Peak, injecting confidence into the international system will help jobs and the economy down to local level. It will encourage banks to lend to businesses that need it. It will create jobs and help keep mortgages and savings safe. It has got lots to do with us and we will benefit directly from it.

Winning football matches can boost confidence too. Glossop’s historic victory last weekend, taking them to Wembley, was real theatre! Suspense, anticipation, fear and elation were present in equal measure in a match which could not have been closer. Local pride will do the town good and I hope to be joining thousands of supporters at Wembley.

Good luck to Glossop on May 11 – and to Buxton on April 28 too, in the final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup.

Click here to see that goal