Another busy week in Parliament last week!
On Monday I attended briefings on the assisted dying bill. I know this is an issue many of my constituents care about. For the time being, I am still listening to all of the arguments on either side of this debate to ensure I make the most informed decision possible. Thank you to the many constituents who have written to me about this, I have found many of the personal stories moving and valuable as I consider this incredibly emotive debate.
Then on Tuesday I attended meetings with various campaign groups, from those fighting for our rivers and sea to be cleaned up, to charities campaigning for wider teaching of British Sign Language.
I started Wednesday with the Annual ‘Poppy Ride’ to raise awareness for remembrance events. All MPs are invited to take part in a static cycle and go as far as they can in 5 minutes – I was glad to achieve a respectable 2.7km!
In the afternoon, I met with the Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds to discuss the concerns many constituents have raised regarding the means-testing of the Winter Fuel Allowance. I would encourage all constituents who are eligible to sign-up for Pension Credit to ensure you continue to receive the Winter Fuel Allowance.
I was back in the constituency on Thursday morning this week and spent most of the day on the doorstep speaking to residents, supporting our excellent candidates in local by-elections, Joel McKevvitt in Bispham and James Mason in Marsh Mill. It is always good to speak to voters and I try to do it as often as I can.
I was delighted with the result for Joel – he will be an excellent and hard-working local voice and I am looking forward to working with him in his new role on Blackpool council. Commiserations to James who worked equally hard but was unsuccessful.
Then on Friday, I spent a few hours in the morning speaking to students at Montgomery Academy in Bispham before driving over to Edge Hill university to speak to politics students there about my role as an MP. It is so important to me that our young people are educated about and engaged in our political system – they are the future and they deserve a voice in shaping it.
On Saturday morning I also visited the Fleetwood Town FC Youth Voice organisation for their regular Saturday morning breakfast club. It was so interesting speaking to them about politics in general and their own careers, as well as their experiences growing up in our town.
Those who know me know that as an army wife I will always support our armed forces and veterans, so I spent a lot of time on Saturday and Sunday at Remembrance Services across my constituency. I attended the Remembrance Service organised by Cleveleys Town Centre Group at Poppy Corner in Cleveleys on Saturday and laid a wreath.
On Sunday I attended the Fleetwood Remembrance parade as always. I’m so proud to be able to represent my local community in this way.
I also sent wreaths in my name to the services in Blackpool and Thornton to be laid by local councillors and laid another wreath at the Arboretum in Bispham. Remembrance Sunday is always a solemn event and something I take seriously. It is incredibly important to me that we remember the sacrifices made by so many for the good of our country.