Last week Parliament returned to elect the Speaker and for the newly
elected members to swear the oath of allegiance to The Queen that
enables them to take their seats in the House of Commons. I was proud
to be in their number as your new MP.
The first time you enter the chamber of the House as a new member you
are struck by its history, size [it is a lot smaller than it looks on
television] and by the odd familiar face. However, you are also struck
by the fact that the chamber of the House of Commons is a great
leveller. Each Member of Parliament, regardless of age or life
experience has an equal right to stand up and speak out on behalf of
the people they represent. I look forward to being called to make my
maiden speech sometime soon, and will write about that experience in a
later column. There will certainly be no shortage of important debates
in the weeks and months ahead with the new Government’s programme
including measures to reduce our budget deficit this year, introduce
new powers for schools to run their own affairs, important reforms to
the benefits system to create more incentives and support for people
to find work and a bill to repeal much of the unnecesary legislation
that has created our overly regulated and controlled state.
Whilst Westminster has been getting ready for this week’s Queen’s
Speech, we have been at work from day one in the constituency. On
Saturday I held my advice surgeries in Hythe and then Folkestone, and
following them joined the members of the Lydd Allottments Association
for the opening of their new clubhouse. Allottments are growing in
popularity but in Lydd these were first established over 100 years
ago, and are clearly thriving. I was able to pick up some tips to
boost my own vegetable patch at home in Elham which is very modest in
comparison.
On Friday morning I called into the coffee morning at the Headway Day
Centre in Folkestone, where I joined Cllr Susan Carey, the Chairman of
Shepway District Council, and also Leigh Sinden, the reigning
Folkestone Carnival Queen. Headway does excellent work to support
people who have received head injuries that have left damage to the
brain. We joined in one of the exercise classes and met the organisers
and regulars who come along to enjoy this popular centre.
On Friday evening I joined the members of the Elham Environment Group
for one of their regular meetings. For the last three years the group
has supported initiatives to save energy, promote more sustainable
living and reduce unnecesary waste. You can find out more about the
Group by visiting their website www.elhamenvironment.co.uk . Often the
debate about climate change and sustainable living can seem like a
purely global one, but part of the solution can be found locally in
the way we care for and use the resoures available to us. There is
also a demand for practical help and advice which the Group provides
to the local community.