The last fortnight has been intense at many levels, from the Security & Defence Strategic Review (SDSR) to the Comprehensive Spending Review(CSR), from the vote on extending bombing into Syria to the dramatic floods in Cumbria & Northumberland.
From a North Northumberland perspective, the CSR gave us great tools to help our patch develop, with the approval for an Enterprise Zone in Berwick itself, and Powers of Competence for Northumberland National Park. I was personally pleased that the Chancellor showed he had listened to my concerns about tax credits & getting a lower-tax, higher-wage, lower-welfare environment by rationalising tax credits with universal credit over the next two years rather than trying to make short term & confusing changes now.
Amble has been rewarded for its fantastic development efforts, winning The Great British High Street's "Best Coastal High St" award! I was so pleased to be able to join Amble Business Club & Development Trust ladies at the awards ceremony in Whitehall on Monday.
I have had a lot to consider in terms of voting matters. The vote on Syria has dominated, and it generated a lot of correspondence from constituents - most was honest & considered dialogue, but in the four days running up to the vote, I was sent a number of aggressive & threatening emails and social media comments which required a firm hand. I am well experienced at being the butt of offensive commentary (being a Conservative in the north east is sometimes akin to being a funfair coconut shy!) but some of this stuff was really unpleasant, ignorant, rude & threatening. I am considering publishing it all alongside my responses, in the spirit of transparency & honesty that these Momentum and Stop The War campaigners don't seem to follow themselves.
I have also been closely involved in two private members bills:
-the first one calling on Government to mandate First Aid Education in Schools. This was talked out by some MPs who are encouraged to stop progress of PMBs. This was a very depressing experience, especially because whilst there may be some challenges for schools in how they do this, the potential life & cost-savings as far as the department of health is concerned are enormous. You can read my contribution to the debate at http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2015-11-20a.984.0&s=speaker%3…
- the second PMB was on Pavement Parking regulations, in conjunction with the Guide Dogs, RNIB & many others. We have made some progress with Government now willing to hold roundtable talks to review best practice & assess the complexities of present regulations. It is possible to make progress with departmental support.
The week ahead brings new challenges- a vote on the Prum Convention (EU DNA data sharing) & Rapporteuring on our Public Accounts Committee hearing on failings by DEFRA on the CAP programme. Both of these issues have direct & detrimental impacts on my constituents.
And in case you hadn't realised, it's only 18 sleeps 'til Christmas!