Here at The Argus we study what you, our regular readers, enjoy reading so that we can make sure we are providing the right stories.

We have known for a long time how important our political coverage is and how popular it is with readers. This includes stories on town councils and goes right up to our MPs in Parliament.

We enjoy good relationships with politicians across the range and it is excellent when our MPs remain in contact and on the end of the phone.

James MacCleary has been in regular contact with our reporting team for years in his roles as Lewes district councillor and East Sussex county councillor. We know he lives in the constituency and cares about the area deeply.

So it was good that we had a chance to speak with him during the Lib Dem conference at the Brighton centre this week.

It will always be our job to hold him and his fellow politicians to account and people will not always agree with him, but accessibility to residents and the press is a real strength for him and others like him.

Maria Caulfield, whose Lewes constituency Mr MacCleary won when he became an MP, was not as easy to call and get hold of. But thankfully many of our MPs in and around Brighton and beyond do recognise that they need to be accessible, within reason. They must be careful due to some horrific attacks on MPs. But talking to the press gives voters a great chance to hear about what they are working on.

Their accessibility bodes well for healthy debate for the sake of us all and we will continue to cover politics heavily as this new Labour government, and relatively new Labour city council in Brighton look to make good on their promises.

Mr MacCleary, in opposition, will help to hold them to account and raise issues for his constituents. By speaking to us at The Argus he can spread more awareness of issues raised with him and discuss how he feels the government and councils are performing.