24th June 2011

Celebrating Carers

First off – I had the great pleasure of attending the opening of the new carers room at the hospital on Friday.  I know what carers do: people very close to me have been carers, showing a love, dedication and respect that I now only fully appreciate.

Yet it is important, when praising these silent heroes, to remember that it is emotionally and physically exhausting business.  So the new little kitchen at the hospital, set aside specially for carers so they can take a break, make a cup of tea and read a book between visiting hours, is a great idea.  A fantastic way to celebrate carers too – and at the end of Carers’ Week.

A Parliamentary Week

A bit of parliamentary news this week, as I have been doing a lot of talking on your behalf.

On Monday the House had the Second Reading – that is the general consideration – of the bill that will raise the pension age to 66.  I was able pressure ministers on the concerns of many constituents, especially those women who will be asked to work an additional two years because of where their birthday falls.  I know that the government listened and I hope – but so far it is only a hope – that the government will act.

During the course of the debate I was able to talk about the longer-term issue of pensions, which I think is very concerning.  The fact is that for every four years that pass, the average life expectancy goes up by a year.  This brings up a whole load of problems, which I shall return to in a later article.  It’s enough to say here that if you’re under 45, I wouldn’t count on getting much out of the state pension, whoever is in power.

On Wednesday I was able to lock horns with Ed Balls in an opposition debate on the economy.  The old bruiser was on top form.  However, unlike the pensions debate, this one shed rather heat than light.  This was funny though: just days after some notes were found, showing how he and others schemed against Tony Blair, Old Balls had the, well, balls to claim that he liked to do his politics “on the record”.  MPs were laughing so hard at this – on both sides of the chamber – that I was worried that a couple of the less athletic ones might be in danger of doing themselves some harm!

However, the really interesting – and testing – time has been in the committee.  I am sitting on the panel assessing the government’s new legislation to deal with terrorists, who cannot be tried as to reveal the evidence would be to endanger both people and intelligence.  It is incredibly hard to come to a settled opinion on the ethical issues at the heart of this debate.  As I write this I have just come out of a fascinating discussion on the first few clauses, at which ex-Labour minister Hazel Blears has given some well put insights.

This is parliament working at its best: we are testing the arguments, debating them and trying to find consensus.

And finally....

Speaking of criminals, I met up on the Waterfront with the editor of this great newspaper on Monday to chat through supporting business in the town.  Rushing off to London I got up from the table, picked up my ‘phone, but for the life of me couldn’t find my car keys.

“I bet you’ve left them in the ignition” says Nigel.  And so I had – for a full hour.  The car was still there.  See how trustworthy is our town!?