June 2015 and the first 50 days
Induction and orientation within the Palace of Westminster continued into June for all new MPs. We were given tours and seminars and briefings and lots and lots of papers to read.
Additionally we had the not insignificant task of setting up offices, both in Westminster and the Constituency. For the first 6 weeks, all MPs and Westminster staff were ‘hot desking’ within the communal area of Portcullis House. Quite challenging administratively. However towards the end of June we had all been allocated an office, taken delivery of computer equipment and office furniture and were able to formulate systems in order to start to work on the inevitable backlog of constituency enquiries, diary requests and day to day logistics of working within Parliament.
As the Government majority is small, we understandably have to make sure we are always available to vote, so Monday to Thursday we are required to be on the Parliamentary estate ready to get to the Chamber for votes - when the voting bell sounds, all MPs are given 8 minutes to reach the House. Once those 8 minutes are up, the doors are locked and there is no way in – my office is a brisk 5 minute dash from the Chamber.
On Fridays and Saturdays I am occupied in the constituency which I feel honoured to represent and have been opening summer fetes, attending businesses and charities to listen to them and find out about the work they do and the barriers to their success.
Business in the Chamber got underway immediately and we have already voted on the EU Referendum Bill and the Scotland Bill amongst others. Business is often done in the division lobby, it’s a great place to get the ear of a Cabinet Minister or their Personal Private Secretaries and is a very effective method of communication.
There are many forms of protocol which need to be followed from where you sit in the tea room to intervening and bobbing during debates in the House. It is inspiring to see and listen to the old guard of MP’s who have so much experience – and eloquence of Members such as Jacob Rees-Mogg, Simon Burns and Ken Clarke are a delight to listen to.
Westminster Hall debates are another forum for raising political points of interest such as the debate around the paucity of rural broadband and mobile signals - something that is of huge interest to me as representative of a constituency which suffers in this regard.
During June I delivered my Maiden Speech. This is the only time where an MP is guaranteed not to be interrupted. So I made the most of it and was sure to mention the assets, diversity and people of the wonderful constituency of Bury St Edmunds. http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/67063140-a0b0-46b2-abd2-a09b8b3e2cdb?in=16:02:30
Politically, life in the House of Commons is fascinating and covers a huge diversity of topics. I was privileged to spend 48 hours at the Defence College at Shrivenham, as part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. This is part of a 15 day programme that will allow me to speak to serving members of the Armed Forces of all ranks and be more informed around keeping a 2% spend of GDP on defence as promised in the budget.
I am in talks to get Ministers of State to visit the constituency in order that we can raise issues around housing, road and rail transport and matters that are of particular interest to the farming community.
I will be pursing my interests in health and small businesses as a priority and am pleased to have been elected to the Women and Equalities Select Committee and the Environmental Audit Committee.
My aim is to be the best constituency MP I can be, to upskill my knowledge base and to fight for my constituents. There is a huge amount on offer within Parliament to contribute to, but as some experienced MPs have advised me, it is a marathon and not a sprint.
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