Letter from Parliament

This week has seen the end of my first parliamentary session which started on the 17 May last year. In all we have dealt with over 140 bills ranging from Terrorism, Road Safety, Company Law and the Animal Welfare Bill. It has been a very interesting experience and Monday turned out to be one of most my busiest days. The government was keen to get all its legislation through.

We had six bills to deal with. I was the duty whip which meant I had to find out very quickly what each was about and what the likely votes would be on. The most controversial was the Police and Justice Bill and Extradition to the USA. The Home Secretary was forced to make compromises though he did so with very ill grace. There was no agreement on one part which became the subject of parliamentary ping pong. This is where the Lords disagree with the Commons and both houses keep voting until one (usually the Lords) gives in.

The new session of Parliament starts next Wednesday with the State Opening of Parliament by the Queen. She reads the Loyal Address which sets out the Government’s legislative programme for the following year. I am hoping that there is a Climate Change Bill a subject which a number of people have written to me about.

Because of business in the House I wasn’t able to give my first Parliamentary Report in Rochdale. This was something which Sir Cyril Smith did every year and which I was keen to reintroduce. Councillor Alan Taylor very kindly agreed to read my speech though of course he couldn’t answer the difficult questions!  I’m delighted that Councillor Zulfiqar Ali has been elected to the panel of people who the Liberal Democrats choose their Lords from. He has worked hard for the community over many years and I’m delighted for him. 

Also this week we had a Westminster Hall debate on the Farepak scandal. It really is disgraceful that over 150,000 people have lost over £40 million of their savings including scores from Rochdale.

I attended the debate prior to speaking in a debate on rail travel. I raised the issue of freight using the Channel Tunnel and the increased charges which the government plan to impose. Chris Davis MEP has been taking up the issue in Europe so I was pleased to be able to work with him on the issue.  On Friday night I’m due to speak at the Rochdale Music Society Annual Dinner on my experiences in my first year in Parliament. The Society organises some excellent concerts led by Shirley Mitchell and I’m hoping to get to a concert later in the year.

This Saturday I’m planning to go and see Rochdale AFC in the cup against Hartlepool. I hope they do well as they have been having a torrid time at the moment.

Sunday is of course Remembrance Sunday, over the last few weeks the Rochdale branch of the Royal British Legion have been working hard on the Poppy Appeal. Rochdale as always raises a huge amount of money in part due to the hard work of the late Barrie Steele. Both my fellow Councillors Peter Clegg and Tom Bailey have a major involvement in the organisation. I always feel a lump in my throat at the Last Post. We owe so much to those who have gone before us.