You may read this expecting the latest on the political machinations surrounding the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. Unfortunately, long lead-in times for a monthly publication mean that I am writing this a day after the Government won the confidence vote in the Commons, and by the time it is published, well, who knows what will have happened!
The debates about Brexit are taking up a considerable amount of Parliamentary time, but that does not mean Members of Parliament are not discussing and developing many other items of business. Since returning after Christmas, I have contributed to debates on the ongoing roll-out of welfare reform, increasing support for those with autism and learning disabilities as well as working closely with the Attorney General, the Rt. Hon. Geoffrey Cox QC (who gave a tub-thumping speech in the Brexit debate) as his Parliamentary Private Secretary.
The extraordinary amount of work to be done in Parliament is fortunately not getting in the way of my constituency work. I have had some useful discussions already this year with local councillors and campaigners about Essex County Council’s consultation on local libraries, some important talks with local business and the future of High Street, ongoing development work in Brentwood and, of course, talking to schools and young people around the area.
I am due to hold a Mock Parliamentary debate for sixth form politics students in February, and have brought in the expertise of my Right Honourable Friend, the MP for Epping Forest, Dame Eleanor Laing – Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons – to preside over proceedings. I hope this will be the first of many such debates for sixth formers, offering enrichment activities to young and aspiring politicians. They live in interesting times for the study of the subject.
[This article was written for Vision Magazine, February 2019 edition]