A month of two halves
Parliament goes into recess half way through July and in many ways July is the month which brings into sharp contrast the two parts to an MP’s life - Westminster and the constituency.
The first two weeks in July involve the usual parliamentary business; questions, scrutinising draft legislation, debates and division bells. For me it has been a busy period with two very significant issues of debate - House of Lord Reform and the structure of local government in Cumbria.
I fully support the Government on the Lords Reform. We live in a democracy where we should expect to be able to vote for those who make the law and we should also expect to have the opportunity to seek election to the second chamber ourselves. The House of Lords is presently based on privilege and patronage and I firmly believe that this should be changed.
I also managed to secure a debate on the issue of unitary authorities in Cumbria.
The present arrangement is detrimental to effective government in Cumbria and not in the best interest of Cumbrians.
I would advocate we have two unitaries and I have called upon the Government to review the arrangements in the hope that we will achieve this.
Sadly, this campaign may take longer than I would like - but I do believe there is cross county and cross party support for change.
In the second half of July recess starts and this is an opportunity for MPs to catch up on constituency business and to recharge their batteries.
I will meet with constituents, hold surgeries and visit some of the many different organisations in the constituency. One of the reasons I thoroughly enjoy representing Carlisle is the city’s diversity of groups.
I often get asked which do I enjoy most between Westminster and Carlisle?
In many respects it is like comparing apples with pears - but nothing beats going to your own home at night.
Published: July 31, 2012
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Make your comment
Blog history
More Kirkby news
- Meet Misty, possibly the cleverest dog in Cumbria - or should that be the world? (1 comment)
- Work begins at Kirkby school to cut disruption to lessons
- Cumbria County Council election
- Beautiful historic Kirkby home has plenty of character
- Wall repairs reduce A595 in Cumbria to one lane
- Wall repairs reduce A595 in Cumbria to one lane
- Energy firm ponders plans to replace turbines at Lakes windfarm
- Locals infuriated by Cumbria A595 roadworks (9 comments)
- Kirkby villager to appeal ‘nonsense’ home decision
- Paraglider crash in Cumbria's Lake District
- Public invited to view progress at £22.5m new Barrow school building
- Little girl shows big heart for Barrow foodbank (2 comments)
- Car in A595 accident in South Cumbria
- Neighbours help flood-hit OAP
- Kirkby runner raises charity cash running 80 miles barefoot
- 70 years of community efforts to be honoured
- Firearm fine for convicted Kirkby arsonist
- Kirkby man banned from teaching
- Cumbria firm wins deal to roof Australia Prime Minister's home
- Places with turbines ‘should be rewarded’
- Cumbria police release CCTV: Do you recognise this man?
- Society’s 133rd show has great day in bad weather
- Confusing closure signs on A595 (3 comments)
- Kirkby mother and daughter in Olympic first aid mission
- Lives at risk over A595 closure
Have your say
well councillor stevenson i know which are the apples and pears , Apples are the carlisle people whom after taking a bit from this so called goverment have had a bitter soar taste let in their mouths . by the time this goverment have finished there will be less jobs - more crime and a world record for the homeless young people and more child deaths and perhaps even going as far as a cival war because this goverment haven't got a clue about its people true welfare . your all a bunch of sheep bleeting on about reforms , well get the foreign workers out and stop allowing more people from countries to stay here and get the european borders back in place so it makes it harder for terriosts and scum to enter europe then perhaps we get down to putting this country back in order
Posted by corina farley on 7 August 2012 at 14:28