Article for N21
4th June 2010
I was delighted to be re-elected with an increased majority and want to thank everyone who voted for me. I would also wish to reassure those who did not vote for me that I look forward to working hard for all my constituents. It is a great privilege to represent you and be your voice in Parliament. Please use my website to access details of how you can contact or meet me. If you have not yet joined me in a tour of Parliament please contact my office so I can show you around!
Well it has been quite a month in Parliament! In fact the adage that a week is a long time in politics could not have been truer than in the days that followed the election. On the Tuesday afternoon the coalition finally reached agreement and Gordon Brown packed his bags and left for the Palace. I was in the Commons as David Cameron started the historic journey to the Palace and later met back in a committee room with elated colleagues now as Prime Minister.
We have entered a new era of politics. Whilst it will take a while to get used to Lib Dems on the same front benches as Conservative colleagues, I do believe that most of the public want us work together to tackle the immense problems in our economy and society.
Two weeks on from the election I am delighted that the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley visited Chase Farm Hospital to fulfil one of the key campaign pledges – to halt the downgrade of Chase Farm’s A&E and maternity services. We now need to work together – the Council, GPs and public to make sure we continue to have accessible healthcare which meets local and clinical demands.
It is also good that the new Home Secretary has responded to our long campaign for justice for Gary McKinnon by agreeing to adjourn his extradition and consider the medical evidence. I will soon be meeting with the Home Secretary to press Gary’s case and am very hopeful that common sense and compassion will prevail.
On a personal front, I have been appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Francis Maude and Oliver Letwin in the Cabinet Office, supporting their work of making government more efficient and creating a ‘big society’ as well as providing policy advice to the Prime Minister.
