I think it's fair to say the last week or so has been quite remarkable!
First of all, we had the opportunity to go to the polls on Thursday to elect our councillors and decide whether we wanted to adopt the Alternative Vote as the method used to choose who represents us in Parliament. I am delighted that we have decided to stick with First Past the Post and that the Conservatives now have a majority on Teignbridge District Council. My congratulations to those who emerged victorious and my commiserations to all who were unsuccessful. I look forward to working alongside all councillors in order to achieve what I believe is a shared objective - making Teignbridge as good a place to live, work and visit as possible.
Dramatic events have unfolded in Pakistan resulting in the news that Osama Bin Laden has been killed. Bin Laden stood for all that was rotten in the world and, although I understand there are many who will be worried about the future, I am pleased we have managed to track him down. I was in the air on 9/11 in a plane destined for New York coming in to land some minutes after the twin towers came down. We ended up being diverted to Boston and I will never forget the ground crew coming aboard that day and declaring to passengers that America was at war. The subsequent attacks in London and elsewhere demonstrated what a cowardly man Bin Laden was and I have no doubt whatsoever the world is a better place without him.
Westminster
Whilst attention has understandably been on the historic events in Pakistan and the elections, Westminster was (quite literally) not asleep! The Finance Bill continued its path through the debating chamber and the opposition helped keep the House sitting until around 4am one morning. Blurry eyes were commonplace! Westminster Hall was also the theatre for a number of interesting debates on issues relevant to us here in Teignbridge. A debate on how hospitals have been funded as part of the PFI (Private Finance Initiative) raised a number of issues important for us and the future funding challenges for our two PFI funded hospitals in Dawlish and Newton Abbot. Next up was a debate on Equitable Life. It is important we have clarity now on the next steps and payment timings for those who have suffered in this despicable mess. Finally a debate on the particular challenges small and medium sized businesses face raised some important issues to be addressed.
Out and About
I was delighted to visit TAAG Arts and Community Centre in Northumberland Place in Teignmouth last weekend and I was very impressed with what I saw and what had been achieved since they opened in January. It is a first class example of what a community can do when it gets together. As you walk in the door you are welcomed by a vibrant display of colour as art work and costumes. At the time of my visit there were displays from India, Russia and Indonesia. The best part of all however was that everything has been contributed by local people. There is a celebration of the first man into space there at the moment – well worth a visit.
On Saturday, after a busy surgery in Teignmouth, I popped in to see the annual art exhibition in Bishopsteignton. I was most impressed with what I saw. A very good display of local artists work, with a distinctly seafaring theme which I would thoroughly recommend. And in the evening I was delighted to be invited to the Stokeinteignhead Twinning Dinner. Stokeinteignhead is twinned with Trevieres in Normandy. I was delighted to welcome our visitors - I just hope my French was up to scratch!
And finally I was delighted to welcome our Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne MP to Newton Abbot to visit Centrax, one of the most successful local businesses in Devon. He was very impressed to find a company exporting to Germany and to Russia – nice to see significant exports to countries which we too often see more import from.
Surgeries and Getting Together
My next surgeries will be on the 21st May at 10am in Teignmouth Library and at 12 noon in Kingsteignton Community Centre. Please phone 01626 368277 for an appointment or for immediate help with issues that can’t wait until the next surgery. My next “Face to Face” pub meeting will be on Friday 10 June at the Old Church House Inn at Torbryan at 6.30pm –I should love to see you there so do come along for a chat!