My Week in Westminster

On Monday, I met with a delegation from the Thailand equivalent of PACTS, the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Road Safety. Cooperation and information sharing on best practices for road safety is vital and this kind of meeting is invaluable for that process.

Later in the day, I sponsored a reception for Cycling UK, a charitable membership organisation which supports cycling and bicycle use. Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport joined us at the reception.

On Tuesday the All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking held a Parliamentary bike ride. During this event I spoke to Lillian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, about road safety.

Next, I attended a breakfast meeting hosted by the London School of Economics on driving investment and growth in small towns such as the ones we have in Darwen and Rossendale.

Then, I founded the Terrorism and Security APPG alongside Darwen's own Travis Frain, counter-extremism campaigner and survivor of the 2017 Westminster Bridge terrorist attack. This new All Party Parliamentary Group will focus on ensuring support for victims of terror.

In the evening I went to an event hosted by the Centre for Social Justice, where we discussed the Lost Boys report which shows a growing disparity of outcomes between boys and girls. I have made arrangements for the CSJ to visit Rossendale and Darwen.

On Wednesday morning, I attended a meeting of the APPG for Cricket. The topic of this meeting was how to ensure this sport is properly supported.

I listened in the Chamber to Prime Minister's Questions and the Spending Review. It was gratifying to be mentioned as one of the key campaigners for reform of the Green Book, and afterwards I asked the Chancellor to agree with me that the benefits of renewal must be felt in small towns such as those in Rossendale and Darwen. I also attended the debate on Outdoor Education, during which I spoke to suggest that all schools which are rated outstanding by Ofsted must provide access to the outdoors.

On Thursday, I spoke again in the House of Commons to argue that small towns should be at the heart of our National Renewal.

I then ended the day with a meeting of the APPG for Access to Nature to discuss the inquiries we'll be launching going forward.

Today, Friday, I am still in Westminster for the debate on Assisted Dying. I am keeping an open mind to the arguments and evidence presented by both sides of this issue. ... See MoreSee Less