Week 1 in Parliament

Week 1 was, of course, unique in Parliament - what a time to start one's parliamentary career.

Coalition is not the same as a merger - it is an alliance (think in business a joint venture or special purpose vehicle) on a shared programme. Full details of the coalition programme are still not out and won't be for a while yet, so it is difficult to answer some questions at the moment.

I missed the big "love-in" in the Rose Garden as I was in induction along with nearly 150 other new Conservative MPs. On the Wednesday, it was the first time for sitting in the chamber. One Labour chap tried to be a bit of a card (or in Scouse - a case) but mostly it was innocent questions about how to do this bill or the convention on interventions and so on. What was stressed was how the chamber should be the most important part of our parliamentary career - I certainly think so. The constituency casework is absolutely key but so is the opportunity to persuade members of all parties that your particular perspective is so compelling that they should back you. I will be doing my best on constituency issues.

The chamber is quite small and tomorrow (Tuesday) will see the Speaker's Election - a 3 line whip and not for one MP from I won't say where, an opportunity to go to bingo at a Residents' Association. Bingo may be the most important thing in their lives - but we all have to remember that we are here for our constituents, representing them and sometimes, even how bitterly we may want to do something, we will have to forego our own desires in order to do the right thing.

Back in Suffolk Coastal, I visited Thorpeness and some constituents. I am pleased that the council has started taking steps to shore up the bank and I will be pressing DEFRA to get on with changing their policy. I also had a useful meeting with the Chief Executive and Chairman of Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT for initial discussions on the impact of possible and impending changes. Finally, on Saturday morning, I went to Saxmundham Middle School to attend a public meeting on one possible solution for a future use of the site - set up by the local CIC and to use as community facilities with revenue streams for renting out space to private and public organisations. I am delighted to see such local commitment and it will take a lot more than the current Board of Directors to share the challenge and see it through, but I am hopeful.

I finished the weekend up North to see family and friends in Liverpool, Chester and Wrexham. A flying visit but one much appreciated by all.

Will Week 2 prove as interesting? I hope so. Being sworn in (makes a change from being sworn at!), Sea Eagles in The Times, trying to recruit staff and trying to find somewhere to live. Minor details in the grand scheme of starting the job of tackling the immense challenges left behind by Labour. That note from Liam Byrne sums it up, "The money is spent." More truthfully, the multiple credit cards are maxed to the hilt and we have gone to the loan sharks because we know we are not paying it back. That really is Labour's legacy.