The party conference season is now underway again and parliament is in recess. A number of people have raised the very relevant question of why parliament is in recess for the conference of a party with just 8 MPs out of 650.
It's a fair question and the answer is that when the parliamentary timetable was set, no-one could have predicted that the Lib Dems would have lost so many MPs to become such a minor party. The same applies to the SNP. Their conference will be held after we return to Westminster, yet they are proving to be a very significant force in Westminster (with 56 MPs) so it would seem fair that we have recess for the SNP conference and not the Lib Dems.
Either way, it provides a useful opportunity to be in Wyre Forest when people are all back from their holidays. The parliamentary timetable is set around the schools timetable so most of the time we are in recess, schools are shut and many people are on holiday. So for the next couple of weeks my diary is full of meetings with local businesses and organisations and schools, meeting new heads and catching up on issues I have been involved with, but from a distance.
Much of the local work is tackling specific issues, but there are a number of enjoyable visits to see how the community works together. One such visit was to have lunch with Age UK in Kidderminster, where people over 65 can get together for a lunch three days a week, followed by a quiz and bingo. With over 20,000 people in Wyre Forest over 65 and the population of pensioners growing, it is important that we provide facilities for pensioners to ensure they keep fit and active and have a community to ensure no one becomes lonely.
Another, regular, visit was to the Kidderminster Corolians Rugby Club President's Day. This year it was the morning after the England victory against Fiji in the opening match of the world cup. The Carolians are celebrating the Rugby World Cup by offering a fabulous venue for rugby fans to watch all the action at their clubhouse on Marlpool Lane in Kidderminster. With their normal club bar, big screen televisions and a beer tent, it makes a fabulous venue to celebrate what I am sure will be a glorious England victory! All are welcome.