The UK Government has been evacuating British nationals out of Sudan due to the ongoing conflict there. I thank the Foreign Secretary for the work he has done so far but I am worried about those who are being left behind. The husband of one of my constituents is currently stranded in Sudan while heContinue reading Urgent Sudan Statement
I recently asked the Prime Minister about the risk of six hundred community pharmacies closing because of a contract that’s driving them to bankruptcy. It was signed before the cost-of-living crisis and prior to problems we’re now experiencing with medical supplies. You might think a doctor writes a prescription, the pharmacist provides the content andContinue reading Pharmacies Need Saving
This year, Easter, Ramadan and Passover all overlap. It happens about three times every century and many of us won’t see it again. It’s interesting to think about what our religions have in common. Passover celebrates the deliverance from slavery and fresh hope for the Israelites, Ramadan preaches spiritual regeneration and the overcoming of earthlyContinue reading Commonality in a Divided World
I’ve been in Israel for a few days, leading a delegation, to discover more about the political and security situation there and learning about peace initiatives. We’ve been looking at some exciting ideas to help people with disabilities and learning difficulties, management of ambulance services and the bringing together of young Israelis and Palestinians inContinue reading United We Can Achieve Peace
First, Boris Johnson was driven from office because even his own MPs could no longer tolerate his lies. Then we suffered the Liz Truss disaster, resulting in chaos in the markets, threats to pensions, increases in mortgages and rents, and the highest tax burden in 70 years. It’s easy to see how Tory MPs mustContinue reading Falling Apart
I liked the tone of the first Christmas message from King Charles. His emphasis on service and consideration for others, values too many in public life ignore these days, appealed to me. He credited his mother, our late Queen, for encouraging his beliefs. As he talked of light from darkness, a concept common to mostContinue reading Happy New Year
The World Cup is our greatest sporting event after the Olympics. It’s usually played in May/June and often an excuse for a few days off work or last-minute purchases of giant TVs. This year it’s in a very hot Qatar just before Christmas, but the weather’s not the only problem. The tournament’s mired in controversyContinue reading Fed Up with Footie Politics
I’ve been attending Remembrance Sunday events since I was a youngster in the Boys Brigade. It’s one of those things I still look forward to all these years later, unlike some who see world wars as having happened a long time ago and ignore such traditions as belonging in the past and nothing to doContinue reading Lest We Forget
I didn’t think I’d be returning to this so soon, but Tory leaders change quicker than football managers these days. Just six weeks after telling us Liz Truss was the answer, we’re inundated with Tory MPs claiming Rishi Sunak, whom they rejected in favour of Liz Truss, is now the answer. I wish theContinue reading End this Game of Thrones and let the people decide
I had planned to write this week about changes and new beginnings but on Thursday we learned ofthe passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second, the cruellest of signs of changing times andsomething many people hoped could be put off. It’s true that, despite average life expectancy for a woman in the UK beingContinue reading End of an Era
