As this is my first webchat the agenda is really going to be set by you, the constituency webchatters. However, I have detailed below a number of topics that I have recently been speaking about and indeed have been raised by my constituents that may be of interest you too.
They are not finite so please feel free to ask about what concerns you and my work as your MP.
NHS – Gravesend Hospital is a shiny, new building built for local people to use local NHS services. However, a number of services have been lost to Darent Valley Hospital or have never been moved to this new site. The Secretary of State for Health could not give me assurances that services would continue here. What do you think?
The role of an MP – it is nearly two years ago that I was elected to serve as your MP. My role is to legislate and pass laws raised by Government or the Opposition (which is my party). I do not have powers over street lighting, parking, housing or bus services, which is a Gravesend Council problem, currently run by a Labour administration. But what I can do for local people is intervene on people’s behalf when they have genuinely exhausted all other avenues.
Crime and anti-social behaviour – Gravesham’s Big Issue occupies a lot of my time. We do not have enough police on our streets and those that are there are taken off the streets to process the paperwork accompanying an arrest. I have publicly welcomed the arrival of two new police chiefs in the north Kent area who, so far, seem to have a practical and sensible approach to policing.
Europe – Always an emotive issue. Do constituents think that Brussels has far too much control over UK law? What do you want from Europe – more integration or less?
Adam thinks we should renegociate and move back to what the British people voted for - a European Economic Community.
The Union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – For 300 years we have been joined together under one system which most people believe has benefited the 4 nations in the Union. Scotland has its own Parliament and Wales has its own Assembly. Do you think the English should have their own Parliament too?
