Much as I fundamentally disagree with them it was good to see representatives of the Remain campaign at last Saturdays’ farmer’s market in Shoreham. They have been notable for their absence whilst I and others representing several political parties have been putting the case to Vote Leave in the EU referendum on June 23rdover recent months.
Whatever your view it is vital that as many people as possible engage with what is the most important constitutional issue to face the British people for the last 40 years. Whether it is a leave or remain vote it needs to be as a result of a good debate enabling people to make an informed value judgement and then turn out to do their democratic duty. A good turnout will leave no room for doubt about the result and then we need to move on whatever the verdict – we cannot afford decades more of uncertainty and half-hearted membership.
This week Peter Bottomley and I (conveniently on opposite sides of the EU debate but remaining good friends and colleagues) will be strutting our stuff in front of the Chamber of Commerce. Next week we are doing the same in front of 3 separate groups of students at local schools and colleges in a single day. I have a further hustings in early June organised by Lancing Churches and will be arranging a further ‘Talk to Tim’ meeting in Shoreham to focus on the Referendum too.
Last week I was delighted to have been elected a co-chair of the new All Party Parliamentary Group for WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) as we step up the campaign at Westminster to secure transitional help for women born in the 1950’s who have disproportionately borne the burden of the moves to equalise up wards the pension age. We have had no fewer than 5 debates on the subject and the meeting to form the new group was standing room only with MPs from all parties. As I know from the strength of feelings by many of my own constituents affected this is an issue which is not going to go away and I hope that the new Secretary of State for Work & Pensions will use the opportunity of a ‘new broom’ to show greater empathy with these women who have been poorly treated.
Next week I will report on yesterday’s Queen’s Speech and the opening of the new Parliamentary session to see how Government plans for the coming year will impact on constituents.