Westminster very quickly became like a ghost town within 24 hours of recess, though not all MPs immediately left with their bucket and spade. With the session ending a couple of days earlier than originally planned, even more meetings had to be crammed in than usual.
The Select Committee met on Wednesday for the interview with Channel 4. This was interesting as it was my first time interviewing witnesses formally - i.e. in public session. Another rung on the learning ladder climbed.
The recess is now underway but that doesn't mean that I stop for the summer. Far from it, the programme has built up quite significantly. Next week, I am back in Westminster for a few days and then in the constituency through to the 17th. I take a holiday (doing DIY in Hampshire) and am then back in Suffolk before resuming in Westminster on the 6th September.
I am hoping that my website will be launched by mid-August. A few technical hitches have delayed it thus far. I can then be in a better position to communicate news and use this blog for more political comment.
See (some of) you at events in the next few weeks - be it the Barrel Fair, tennis at Sudbourne, Gig in the Park and so on..
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Sunday, 18 July 2010
Time to blog? Quick update
Must do better! That has to be my teacher's report on keeping this blog up to date. I do tweet but I need to start setting aside the time to do an update, though I hope my new website will be online by the end of the month.
It's easy to fill every moment with Parliamentary and constituency business, as well as a number of events to be briefed and entertained. Well, now everything is coming together in the office, new staff ready to join in September, nearly sorted out the constituency office and, if IPSA approves the contract, a flat in Pimlico by the end of the month, ending the living out of a suitcase and a car AND walking in on other guests, thanks to a faulty hotel reception system.
There has been a lot going on in Parliament - 2nd reading of the Budget on the floor of the house, Select Committees finally being formed (I am on Culture), briefings on different topics including increase in personal insolvency, presenting a private members' bill and I initiated a Westminster Hall debate on fuel poverty in rural Britain.
A big announcement was the BSF revision; the Felixstowe academy is up for discussion, so I have asked for a meeting with Lord Hill (who was John Major's political secretary in the 90's), though I have been told that Michael Gove is personally assessing and arranging any meetings.
Rural broadband is uppermost in my mind for the business community, reinforced when I met Andy Wood, MD of Adnams and heavily involved in a few Suffolk business forums (fora?), for the Parliamentary Beer Group Dinner. Ed Vaizey has agreed to meet a delegation and just trying to sort out
Of course, the health changes are huge. I had coffee with Dr Janet Massey, secretary of Suffolk BMA, who seemed up for the changes. More surprising was the meeting with NHS East of England - which seemed to be trying to reinvent itself and gave the impression they would still be around in some shape or form, but I doubt it.
Tackling coastal erosion is the distinctive campaign for my constituency and I am formulating my plan to change the DEFRA policy, "Making Room for Water". This is the framework that is happy for, indeed wants, my constituency to fall into the sea. Again, the minister is due to come and trying to fix a date.
Back in the constituency, I have been supporting the Arts, giving prizes at Felixstowe Regatta, visited some more schools (Yoxford, Peasenhall and Rendlesham Primary Schools and Leiston High) and have had more surgeries. There is much else and when the website is online, I will update fully.
Finally, some people have been leaving messages on 07733 996068 but it has been difficult to make them out. Can I suggest that you ring 020 7219 7164 instead?
It's easy to fill every moment with Parliamentary and constituency business, as well as a number of events to be briefed and entertained. Well, now everything is coming together in the office, new staff ready to join in September, nearly sorted out the constituency office and, if IPSA approves the contract, a flat in Pimlico by the end of the month, ending the living out of a suitcase and a car AND walking in on other guests, thanks to a faulty hotel reception system.
There has been a lot going on in Parliament - 2nd reading of the Budget on the floor of the house, Select Committees finally being formed (I am on Culture), briefings on different topics including increase in personal insolvency, presenting a private members' bill and I initiated a Westminster Hall debate on fuel poverty in rural Britain.
A big announcement was the BSF revision; the Felixstowe academy is up for discussion, so I have asked for a meeting with Lord Hill (who was John Major's political secretary in the 90's), though I have been told that Michael Gove is personally assessing and arranging any meetings.
Rural broadband is uppermost in my mind for the business community, reinforced when I met Andy Wood, MD of Adnams and heavily involved in a few Suffolk business forums (fora?), for the Parliamentary Beer Group Dinner. Ed Vaizey has agreed to meet a delegation and just trying to sort out
Of course, the health changes are huge. I had coffee with Dr Janet Massey, secretary of Suffolk BMA, who seemed up for the changes. More surprising was the meeting with NHS East of England - which seemed to be trying to reinvent itself and gave the impression they would still be around in some shape or form, but I doubt it.
Tackling coastal erosion is the distinctive campaign for my constituency and I am formulating my plan to change the DEFRA policy, "Making Room for Water". This is the framework that is happy for, indeed wants, my constituency to fall into the sea. Again, the minister is due to come and trying to fix a date.
Back in the constituency, I have been supporting the Arts, giving prizes at Felixstowe Regatta, visited some more schools (Yoxford, Peasenhall and Rendlesham Primary Schools and Leiston High) and have had more surgeries. There is much else and when the website is online, I will update fully.
Finally, some people have been leaving messages on 07733 996068 but it has been difficult to make them out. Can I suggest that you ring 020 7219 7164 instead?
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