My Croxley - March 2010

This will be last column this side of the General Election campaign starting (and as for columns after the General Election, it will be up to the voters to decide whether I have that opportunity).

I have said before that there is an odd feel about Westminster. It is relatively unusual for a Parliament to run to the end of the five year term and we all know that an election is round the corner.

Many MPs are not standing again and are talking about what they will do in retirement. Some are going to other jobs, others are looking forward to afternoons of watching ‘Midsomer Murders’.

The Parliamentary work continues. I have been working on the Debt Relief Bill, which aims to protect developing countries from ‘vulture funds’ enforcing old debts on impoverished nations. There are also a large number of statutory instruments, up-rating various taxes and benefits which go through the House at this time of year.

Most of the major pieces of legislation have now been completed but, given that I am part of the Treasury team, we are likely to end the Parliamentary term with a flurry of activity. The Budget is set for 24 March and a short Finance Bill will follow after that.

It is also the last chance to fit in meetings to discuss national issues which, in my case, tends to focus on tax policy. Once we get to April, the focus will be 100% on campaigning, so it is a question of cramming in as much as possible now.

There are also plenty of constituency issues which need to be looked after before the campaign begins.

The issue I have mentioned many times before is the need for a new school. I was delighted that the County Council voted for the additional funding to build a new school in the Rickmansworth area (slightly surprised it didn’t get all party support, but there you go) and everything looks to be on track.

I accept that this is scant consolation for those not getting a good school place this year but the fact that there are ongoing problems highlights the need to move quickly.

One issue which I feared would become a big problem was the route of High Speed Rail. One option would have gone very near to Berkhamsted but, rightly, this has not been chosen.

Of course, the General Election looms large. Leaflets are being prepared, articles drafted and photographs chosen. In some respects, it seems like an age since I did this last. Looking through the various photos taken in the last few years is an excellent reminder of the range of experiences that have happened to me. A lot can happen in five years and being an MP is an extraordinary experience. You get to learn a lot about your constituency, appreciate the problems that constituents face and get to meet a huge number of people.

Collectively, we know that MPs are not held in high regard. But it is still a great honour to perform the role, so I hope this won’t be my last article as your MP in this magazine!