It’s been a busy start to the week, with the Foreign Affairs Committee hearing from the former Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Office, fired by the Prime Minister over the Mandelson affairs. In an answer to my questions, he revealed that the PM has also tried to find another of his mates a plum ambassador role.
This is a serious error of judgement by the Prime Minister and I suspect the story will rumble on – but it is deeply frustrating in other ways.
We continue to struggle with a cost-of-living crisis. Energy and fuel prices are sky high, inflation is still above three per cent, wages are stagnant, unemployment is up, SEND provision is in crisis. There are so many issues that actually affect our day-to-day lives – and yet, once again, Parliament is fixated on Peter Mandelson.
So it’s always a pleasure when I can get out and about and focus on the things that really matter.
Last week I visited Sir John Colfox School in Bridport to discuss support for pupils with SEND. I met with the team organising a conference in Sherborne celebrating Alan Turing. I attended the screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing, did a Q&A on the climate crisis and met with the Royal College of Surgeons to discuss dentistry in West Dorset.
I also appeared on BBC Politics South West to discuss the cost of heating oil, the need for WiFi on trains and the use of pesticides by local councils (FYI – Dorset only uses them to tackle Japanese knotweed).
I even found time to take my son to the Great Dragon Egg Quest at Kingston Maurward, which was huge fun.
This week I met with representatives from the Fire Brigades Union, along with fellow Dorset and Wiltshire MPs, to discuss the proposed station closures and what more we can do to prevent them. We have requested yet another meeting with the Fire Minister to find a solution. I will of course provide any updates as I have them.
Edward Morello
LibDem MP for West Dorset
