This week has been a week of small achievements.
On Saturday it felt really good to get back out in the community. I spent the morning at a street stall in Stonehouse and really enjoyed talking with those who stopped for a chat. You never know what you are going to be asked about, but the winter fuel payment is clearly a big issue for a lot of people.
On Monday, with the help of a lovely constituent with a van, I moved into a small flat in London. Having a base there will make things a lot more efficient than staying in hotels and friends’ houses all the time. And I can walk across town to Parliament as well.
The rest of the week was mostly taken up with business in the House of Commons, and meetings with different groups who want to raise various issues. I was especially impressed with the members of the Gloucestershire Badger Group and the campaign for swift bricks to be included in every new build.
It was great to get my maiden speech out of the way on Thursday. I had to wait over three hours, which wasn’t good for the nerves, but the House was receptive and people laughed in all the right places, which actually really helps when you are trying to get a point across. Humour is a pretty fundamental way of bringing people together, and even when you disagree politically, it helps build empathy and understanding.
It felt good to be back in Stroud on Friday. I met a group of campaigners to discuss the shocking levels of violence against women, and held a surgery (MP’s, not GP’s) at the Trinity Rooms. It is always really interesting to talk to people face to face and get a real understanding of their issues and how we can try and help them.
I mentioned listening in my speech, and I was reminded throughout the day just how important that simple skill is. We all need to be heard.
