It’s been a busy week in Parliament but as always my focus is on delivering for us here in Somerset. I think a lot of the press are far too interested in various personalities but our job is to deliver tangible results; better job opportunities, good schools, public transport and many other things.
Whilst as a Member of Parliament I get to meet all sorts of people, one of the things we do together that means most is being a part of the Remembrance services that really are for everybody and it was great to attend the ones at Yeovil and Ilminster on Sunday. As the world is facing some troubled times learning from the past is so important and thank you to the organisers and everyone who came to these services, as well as the one in Chard.
This week I had a meeting with Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Defence, to talk about Leonardo and the importance of having helicopters that are designed and made in this country. Nowhere else in the country can do this and I will keep making this point. I met with the company last week and whilst things are going well the Government needs to make a firm commitment to them being the source of medium lift craft which they are completely ready to do.
I had a good meeting with local residents this week at the Great Lyde pub about local facilities around the Wyndham Park estate. As chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Education I have been a huge supporter of pushing for more special educational needs provision but I also think there needs to be better long term planning and it’s really important that the right locations are found so they don’t take away other community assets.
I have also had further discussions about Yeovil regeneration and how we can bring transformative schemes to the town. It has been a difficult few years for the economy but there is no reason why we cannot bounce back strongly and the figures on inflation and employment continue to be going into he right direction.
Finally it is brilliant to see Yeovil Town FC continuing to do so well. There is so much positivity there and that means a lot to the fans. Long may it continue.
