I try to attend as many services as I am able to over Remembrance weekend and this year attended four and was represented at another two. I have attended the service in Ridley Park every year since I was 17 and I found this year to be particularly moving. I am a proud member of the Royal British Legion as well as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ben Wallace who is the Secretary of State for Defence and value the understanding that talking to veterans and serving personnel gives me. I am always touched by the number of people who attend the various ceremonies to show respect for those who died so that we could enjoy the freedoms that we have. For those events I couldn’t attend I visited the memorials and laid wreaths as a mark of my respect.
Monday started as it does most weeks with an early morning train to London. I arrived in time to attend the weekly Ministers Meeting and then spent much of the afternoon in the House carrying out my PPS role for a Ministerial statement by Ben Wallace regarding the situation in Bali followed by a general debate on Ukraine.
The rest of the week continued to be busy and included a catch-up with my team to discuss responses to the many constituents who contact me. On Wednesday I met with Moderna to discuss the importance of being prepared for future viruses and potential opportunities for Blyth Valley. I also met with the Minister for Transport to discuss the many ongoing projects around Blyth Valley. This gave me an opportunity to press for final approval for the Northumberland line as well as reiterating my support for a Blyth relief road and making further representations about the importance of improvements to the Moor Farm roundabout.
The boundaries of all UK constituencies are being reviewed and I spent some time looking at the current proposals. Should the changes go ahead in their current format Blyth Valley will be split into 2 new areas. Blyth will join with Ashington, Bedlington and Newbiggin to create a constituency named Blyth and Ashington. Cramlington would remain with Seaton Valley and take in parts of North Tyneside including Killingworth, Dudley and Wideopen. Any changes will not be finalised until October 2023 and won’t take effect until the next general election. In the meantime, I will continue to be the MP for the whole of Blyth Valley.
Reports of a missile strike on Poland reached us on Tuesday evening meant on Thursday, the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office made a statement in the House after Prime Ministers' Questions.
Once back in the constituency on Friday I hosted a community support event at the Buffalo Centre in Blyth and had the pleasure to meet with BVCVA, Forget me Nots, Silx, Buffalo Centre and Northumberland Communities Together alongside the team from Lloyds bank to discuss what support they can offer to organisations in Blyth Valley. Later in the day, I attended the housing development in New Hartley to meet the site Manager who has recently been given the NHBC Pride in the Job award. In the evening I visited Blyth town centre to see this year’s Christmas Light Switch on. As I looked around the market place it was great to see so many people out enjoying the town and I can’t wait for the next phase of improvements to take place which will include among other things a Culture Hub due to be complete by autumn 2024.
As the week draws to a close I look forward to spending a little time with my family over the weekend. If you want to get in touch with me please don’t hesitate to email at [email protected] or call 01670 338 435
