Hack Back the Red Tape (Evening Star article 9th January)

Parliament resumes this week. First day back, I have secured a short debate on deregulation - the famous red tape that we are keen to cut back, reducing its stranglehold on business and growth. Deregulation is happening - you can check out the "red tape challenge" online but we need to go quicker and faster, as it is a low-cost way of stimulating growth. Less cost on business can equal cheaper goods, cheaper to employ someone, easier to make or sell something. Of course, some regulation is required in many areas, enforcing the civic bonds that we have to each other, that employers have for their employees and businesses for their customers - car insurance, basic health and safety, consumer protection and so on. Europe generates a lot of regulation enacting the single market but also for the the environment. There was controversy recently when the Chancellor called for a review of the Habitats Directive. I support that as I do the Water Directive. We need to strike a balance between the environment and keeping our daily life going, including businesses and farming. I met local farmers last week concerned with the regulations on water and abstraction. This is a genuine threat to farming in east Suffolk which I will take up.

Also last week, amidst other engagements, I visited Sizewell A. It is quite unusual to be in a business that you are intentionally running down but still needs to be closed well. The radioactive material left within the building is now very-low powered but still needs to be removed, which should happen by 2014, though this building will be around for a long time to come.

Two films have been out in the last week, both likely to feature in the Oscars - War Horse and The Iron Lady. I enjoyed Meryl Streeps` portrayal of Margaret Thatcher (as you may expect) but the story is told using flashbacks, events are not in chronological order and certain key scenes of the film did not happen in real life. This last dramatisation technique is widespread - I can think of Cry Freedom for Steve Biko (the ANC activist) or In The Name of the Father for the alleged IRA Guildford Four - where pivotal, emotional and dramatic scenes did not actually occur but are added to deepen connections with the audience in a short space of time. Real life might be a bit dull if told second by second (not all our lives can be as exciting as 24`s Jack Bauer). Some current MPs are in the film, helping to liven up the extras in the Chamber scenes and I still remember when Ms Streep visited Parliament to watch Prime Minister`s Questions.
I am really looking forward to seeing War Horse, which I have seen on the stage and I know to pack the tissues. I am sure the horse must have been based on the sturdy, loyal Suffolk punch; fitting then that the screenplay (the dramatisation) is written by Suffolk resident Richard Curtis.