May I begin this little ‘offering’ by expressing my heartfelt thanks to all of those who have contacted me to congratulate me and wish me well on my appointment to serve as the Local Government Minister at the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities. Those words of encouragement from constituents have meant a lot, and have sustained me, as I have faced into a very steep learning curve entitled: ‘how to be a Government Minister’. As I write I have already attended 40 meetings with a range of Civil Servants and outside bodies, replied to 2 Adjournment Debates in the House, replied to 2 Westminster Hall Debates and been interrogated by the Commons Select Committee for two hours. In at the deep end in every sense of the term! As I type I am also preparing for Departmental Oral Questions in the Commons, a Statutory Instrument in Committee and a session with the House of Lords Constitutional Committee. My working day, which was already pretty full now begins at around 6.00am and finishes with doing my evening ‘box’ of papers to be reviewed, strategies to sign off etc. It is challenging, demanding and hugely satisfying.
A question I have been asked is ‘what does your Ministerial appointment mean for North Dorset?’ In a slightly contradictory answer, it means a lot and yet it also means nothing. As a member of the Government, I can no longer speak in debates or ask questions of Ministers. My only speaking role is as Minister. I can, and will still continue to meet Ministers, write to Government departments and represent my constituents interests on the issues they raise with me. I hope it will be helpful to have that sensible, rural constituency voice and view of North Dorset within the Government. I have already made some changes to policy based on what I have heard from constituents for example highlighting the need for additional funding to deliver services in rural areas where the population is thinly spread. So, in short North Dorset’s voice is very much ‘at the heart of Government’. So, from that standpoint being a Minister can and will be helpful. But, the best thing is that it makes no difference at all. In some democracies when a politician is made a Minister a Civil Servant is appointed to undertake all constituency duties. So, holding Advice Surgeries, visiting schools, businesses, charities, attending local events, reading constituents’ correspondence all would be done by an official and not by the elected representative. I would hate this system. It would divorce me from ‘the real world’ and remove the opportunity to hear at first hand the issues of concern from residents. A gap would open up. I am first and foremost the Member of Parliament for North Dorset. It is to my constituents to whom I am accountable. It is because of the support of my constituents that I serve as an MP with the potential to also be a Minister. It should never be an either or – it must always be both. Our system is of far greater benefit to the electors and elected.
And now for a random Pub Quiz ‘fact’ – the famous Red Boxes that we see Ministers carry are very heavy because they are lead lined. I often wondered why. I have now found out. It is nothing to do with fire or bomb resistance instead it allowed Ministers and Ambassadors to (when you could only travel by sea) drop your Red Box over the side if being attacked by the enemy or pirates etc. That way the State Papers and secrets would sink immediately to the bottom and remain secret from our enemies. I hope I never have to throw mine in the Thames or Stour! Until then I shall continue practicing my lead-lined weightlifting training.
