New Year is a time for reflection. In the past 5 years since I was first selected it has been a busy time, with 3 General Elections, 1 Referendum and 2 Leadership contests.
The General Election on December 12th however, brought with it certainty and stability and, as we start 2020, I would like to thank everyone from right across the constituency for once again placing their faith in me.
I was honoured to be returned as the Member of Parliament for Aldridge-Brownhills with more than 70% of the vote and the largest majority (19,836) since the constituency was first created in the mid-1970’s. Irrespective of how you voted, I look forward to continuing to work with you, and representing Streetly in Parliament.
I am also pleased to be continuing as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice having been first appointed by the Prime Minister earlier last year.
Immediately after the General Election the Government hit the ground running laying out a new legislative programme through the Queen’s Speech and ensuring that we deliver on our central manifesto commitment to ‘Get Brexit Done’.
During the first week back in January I was pleased to support the European Union Withdrawal Agreement Bill as it completed its Parliamentary stages in the House of Commons. It now passes to the House of Lords where I hope it continues to make good progress, allowing us to fulfil the mandate from the British people at the 2016 Referendum, and leave the European Union.
By completing the Brexit process, we can then start to concentrate on the domestic issues which matter to you and which were set out in the Queen’s Speech. These include introducing new laws to strengthen sentencing for the most serious violent offences, enshrining into law for the first time increases in NHS funding and ensuring that all of our children have access to a high quality education, whilst increasing levels of funding per pupil in every school.
Locally, I will continue to campaign on the issues that matter to us here in Streetly and across the constituency, including protecting our precious Green Belt, campaigning to keep the Police Station in Aldridge, and seeking our fair share of the commitment to extra Police Officers.
I could not finish however without a shout out for the Pantomime season. I was fortunate to be at the opening night of “The Pied Piper” at Aldridge Youth Theatre – a wonderful evening of pantomime fun and entertainment! If you have the chance to go along before the 25th January it is well worth a visit – ‘Oh Yes It Is!’.
Happy New Year and best wishes for 2020.
This Article was first published in the Sutton Observer on Friday 17th January 2019