Letter from Parliament

“My Lords and Members of the House of Commons.”

These are the words the Queen uses at the state Opening of Parliament to introduce the government’s plans for the new Parliamentary session.  This is a great, historic event that takes place in October or November each year.

The Queen is the Head of State and it is her duty to open each new session of Parliament but since 1642 when Charles I entered the Commons to arrest five Members of Parliament, no monarch has been allowed to set foot in the Commons Chamber.  Instead a messenger called Black Rod is sent to summon the MPs to listen to the speech in the House of Lords.  When he arrives at the door of the House of Commons it is slammed shut and he has to bang on the door. The door is opened and the summons is made to the Speaker but the event is not without its humorous side.

As we all know, Her Majesty has suffered from a bad back recently and in a moment of silence Dennis Skinner enquired whether Helen Mirren was standing in for the Queen on this occasion.  Even Black Rod, an ex army general could be seen chuckling.  It was vintage Skinner.

The Queen’s Speech is peppered with one line proposals all of which will become Government Bills and will be debated and voted on in due course.  It is essential for the government to give assurances to maintain a stable economy, low inflation, sound public finances and high employment.  So far the Chancellor Gordon Brown has been able to provide all of that.  Security at home and abroad has to be high on the agenda.  The criminal justice system will continue its programme of reform.  A climate change bill will be introduced to secure a safer environment and long term energy supplies.  Reform of pensions, links to average earnings and free off-peak bus travel for pensioners and disabled people and education and health will all be priorities for continued investment. Reform of local government to give it more powers and reform of the House of Lords will continue.  Then there is a section about foreign policy and future royal visits to foreign countries.  There were other policy announcements and these will be fleshed out over the next few months.  Altogether the Queen’s Speech is a Parliamentary date not to be missed.

I attended two social events, firstly a concert in Central Methodist Hall in aid of the Passage, a charity for the homeless in London.  Rory Bremner gave excellent and politically balanced impersonations of Blair, Brown, Cameron and Campbell. Maureen Lipman performed extracts from her London show on Joyce Grenfell and there were other musicians and singers who gave freely of their talents to help this worthwhile cause.  The second event was in the Gladstone Library of the old Liberal club close to Parliament where the main speaker was General Lord Ramsbottom, a former chief inspector of prisons under Michael Howard during his time as Home Secretary.  It was a timely lecture on the appalling conditions he saw in Holloway and his attempts to reform some of the practices he found there. 

I was able to raise it at the 8oth anniversary dinner of the Rochdale Rotary club during my toast at their celebration on 20 November as part of their current project is helping prisoners to achieve better literacy and numeracy skills before they leave prison.  On Friday 17 November the day started with a photo call to support two brave local reporters, Michael Byrne and Vicki Holman, who will do a parachute jump to raise money for charity.  Better them than me!

Then on to Prestwich to meet the Amicus retired members to discuss future government pensions policy. Amicus is my own union.  In the evening I attended my monthly Constituency Labour Party meeting where I give my parliamentary report and answer questions.

Saturday took me to surgeries in Norden amp; Bamford and Castleton.  The switch on of the Christmas lights in Middleton brought my day to an end.  Sunday was the annual Springhill Hospice Christmas Fair, as usual a pleasure and an opportunity to help raise funds for the hospice. Usually I return to London on Sunday afternoon but Monday saw me in the constituency for once to take part in a question and answer session with Paul Rowen MP in the Town Hall at the annual Tenants and Residents Conference.  This is always worth doing as our tenants and residents groups can teach us a few things about a variety of issues.

Tuesday I was back in London to meet pupils from Matthew Moss School who were visiting Parliament as part of their citizenship programme.  They put me through my paces with some searching questions about my role as an MP.  They were a credit to their families and their school and I hope the experience encourages them to support and take part in the democratic process.

Wednesday morning began with a communion service in St Margaret’s church close to Westminster Abbey, followed by a prayer breakfast attended by 30 peers and MPs.  I spoke to them in my capacity as Chairman of the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast.

We had a surprise visit from two constituents, Suzanne Barningham of the RMBC Offices in Middleton and Leanne Hanson of the Queen St Family Support Team, who came down to London as part of the Local Government Pensions Lobby.  I was able to spend some time discussing their concerns and showing them a little of the House of Commons.

Friday I was back in the constituency with a visit to the Bright House shop in Middleton Town Centre to meet the chief executive and staff and customers. It obviously provides a much needed service for many of my constituents. It was a worthwhile visit and I hope to meet them again. 

I then took the rest of the day off to enjoy the Man of the Year dinner in aid of Springhill hospice and was delighted to see the award go to Ken Davies in recognition of his years of tireless fund-raising.

Saturday 25th was filled with visits to seven Christmas Fairs, St Luke’s, St Margaret’s Heywood, St Michael’s Bamford, St Thomas More’s Middleton, St Paul’s Norden, St Martin’s Castleton and All Saints Middleton.  Heywood Christmas lights were switched on by me and the Mayor Cllr Jean Hornby and some youngsters from Heywood. 

Before journeying back down to London on Sunday night, I visited Our Lady and St Paul’s fair in Heywood and St Gabriel’s fair in Castleton.  Both were very well attended. 

The evening ended in the Town Hall where I attended the granting of the Freedom of the Borough to Barrie Bernstein the former chairman of the Rochdale Development Agency since 1992 and a huge contributor and supporter of business development in the borough.

We arrived in London at 12. 30 am and enjoyed a few hours of precious sleep before my first meeting at 10am in the House of Commons.