Articles are a Reproduction of the Article that appeared in the Salisbury Journal.
2nd September 2010
I consider myself privileged to represent such a beautiful constituency, blessed with a vibrant community spirit and served by so many compassionate and forward-thinking institutions.
Parliament remains in recess and I have, therefore, spent another packed week travelling the length and breadth of the district, gaining fascinating insights into a range of issues, courtesy of the many interesting people who contact my constituency office in a typical day.
This is, in relative terms, a prosperous area, where the majority of the population are fortunate to enjoy a high standard of living. I believe that fact presents an ongoing challenge to all of us to remain mindful of the needs of the vulnerable and disadvantaged among us.
This week has provided me with several timely reminders that, as we all go about our busy lives, wrapped up in our own concerns, we are never far from others experiencing personal crisis and dire need.
It is in the nature of this job that many of those people whose lives have temporarily stalled through unfortunate financial, medical or family circumstances find their way to my door, asking me to act as an advocate for them.
I am in politics for one reason - to use the influence of my office to make a positive difference to people's lives.
However, it lies within the power of each and every one of us to bring hope to the needy and comfort to the vulnerable.
Nowhere is that fact more apparent than at the Trussell Trust, where it was my pleasure to spend a day volunteering recently.
I have made a commitment to spend at least one day a month carrying out volunteer work in the constituency. If you know of a charity in need of an extra pair of hands, feel free to get in touch with my office. No job too small, as they say!
Also in the past week, I have spent time at 5 Wishes Children's Centre in Amesbury and at Focus Point, the resource centre for people with learning disabilities, based in Stratford Road.
Both are perfect examples of everyday compassion in action. By bringing joy, energy and boundless enthusiasm to the jobs they do, the staff are effectively elevating their work and enriching the lives of everyone they meet - myself included.
My thanks go to them - and so many others - for another inspiring and enjoyable week in politics!
John Glen MP
26th August 2010
Parliament may still be in recess but my family holiday is well and truly over and I have been relishing the chance to catch up with constituency work.
It is a joy to be back in Salisbury, taking the opportunity to visit as many local organisations as possible, and witness their superb work first-hand before the ‘new term' begins and Parliamentary business imposes additional demands on my time.
I was particularly pleased to further my knowledge of the excellent work being done here to support Alzheimers sufferers and their families. It was a privilege to attend the memory cafe in Harnham and chat to the people there about the life of an MP.
During a most impressive and informative tour of Salisbury's Jobcentre Plus, I was heartened to learn that, even in these turbulent economic times, it has just ten people on its books who have been unemployed for more than two years.
Of course, all unemployment is a tragedy for the people and families involved, but in this area, at least there is cause for optimism that they will not remain out of work for long.
I spent a most pleasant evening at the Milford Hall Hotel with Salisbury's hard-working Rotarians.
I enjoyed my visit to Salisbury Rugby Club and am looking forward to cheering them on at their first game of the new season.
Finally, it was my most pleasant duty to raise a glass of the good stuff with CAMRA - the Campaign for Real Ale.
John Glen MP
22nd July 2010
Last week brought us the shocking news that Major James Joshua Bowman, a local man, was one of the three soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles killed by a rogue Afghan soldier in Helmand province in Afghanistan. This is the first fatality of a constituent since I have been an MP and I want to pay a public tribute to Joshua, a brave and courageous soldier who, along with the many others before him, gave his life in service to his country.
This tragic event under-scored in my mind the vital importance of my role on the Defence Select Committee which held a number of briefing sessions in the last week including one with the Secretary of State for Defence, Rt Hon Liam Fox MP on Monday at the MoD. The committee will be working hard to question officials to ensure that any cuts do not adversely impact the support our serving troops receive. We owe them so much and whatever happens in the years ahead the bravery and sacrifice British soldiers have made must not be forgotten. I hope to visit Afghanistan myself later in the year to see firsthand the work our troops are involved with.
Following my meeting at Wessex Community Action in Salisbury a few weeks ago I asked an oral parliamentary question in the House of Commons about Big Society Banks on Wednesday. I have circulated the reply to interested parties. It is gratifying to respond directly to constituents' questions.
Within the constituency I visited Bishop Wordsworth's School for their Founders Day on Saturday, as well as undertaking visits to St Joseph's and the Stonehenge School at Amesbury. I was again put on the spot by groups of pupils. Concern still grows over the Academy status of Salisbury High School, we must hope that the matter is sorted out soon and the investment required for the new buildings will take place. The people of Bemerton Heath desperately need the investment. I also visited The Trussell Trust Food bank in Bemerton Heath on Friday. The Trussell Trust is a remarkable charity which does so much to address real poverty that lies within our community and in many other locations across the UK. I expect to be working there for a day in the next few months to demonstrate my support for this phenomenal social enterprise.
Meanwhile the battle for the CEPR at Porton continues - I am preparing for a meeting at the Department of Health next Monday. I have several questions for the officials.....
John Glen MP
15th July 2010
One of the main insights I have picked up in my first 2 months as the MP is the amount of volunteering that takes place in Salisbury. Last week I opened the new garden at Stratford Court for Salisbury's Alzheimer's Society. It was tremendous to see the commitment of so many volunteers that has enabled the gardens to be restored - giving a wonderful resource for those with dementia. I witness the same story of people volunteering in our community every week.
Following on from this and another dozen "surgery" cases on Friday I have decided that I am going to spend a day each month volunteering in a local school, charity of other organisation in our community. These will be full, "roll up your sleeves and get stuck in" days, so I can get a real feel for the day to day life of the organisation. It will NOT be a quick drop in and photo op. I know this will attract some cynicism but for me it is a measure of my genuine commitment to the work of the many individuals in our community who work so hard for the people of Salisbury and South Wiltshire. If you would like me to spend a day in your school, charity or organisation, please email me on john.glen.mp@parliament.uk
I visited Salisbury's Fire Station on Friday and also attended the opening of the Honorary Consulate of The Maldives in Salisbury. Salisbury has a proud history of giving asylum to the now President of the Maldives and the many persecuted activists of the Maldives who had to live in exile. I helped write the President's manifesto in a past life so it was a privilege to honour the troubled country in Salisbury. On Saturday I presented the prizes at my first school prize giving at The Cathedral School. Some payback for the support the musicians gave me from the White Hart balcony the day after I was elected!
My first meeting of the Defence Select Committee also took place this week too - we have a lot to consider with the Strategic Defence Review upon us but what is certain is the need to make sure that we ask penetrating questions which ensure that any changes which take place serve the strategic interests of our country as well as do the right thing by the troops who are in Afghanistan. We have had too many short term fixes in recent years and we need to make well reasoned decisions on spending which serve the long term interests of the nation well.
John Glen MP
8th July 2010
The war in Afghanistan is undoubtedly one of the biggest strategic challenges facing the Government. As the MP for Salisbury I am acutely aware of the sacrifices made locally by our armed forces and their families as we seek to deal with the security threats that are harvested and nurtured in those far off lands. This week at Westminster I signed up to the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme which will give me twenty-two days of exposure to the Army over the next year, including a short trip to Afghanistan later this year. I don't expect I will capture a complete understanding of the experience of the troops but I hope I will be better placed to look soldiers' families in the eye when I meet them in the Market Square. What is certain is that any withdrawal from Afghanistan must not take place unless we have achieved our objectives. The three hundred plus lives that have been lost so far cannot be sacrificed without clear gains in the security of our nation.
The battle for CEPR jobs to remain at Porton continues. I was heartened to gain the support of Cllr Paul Sample. As with many issues party politics don't come into it when working as the Member of Parliament - it is about fighting for the interests of Salisbury and I welcome input from all quarters. My next step is to spell out the case for scrutinising a new ownership structure at Porton. I believe this will demonstrate that more opportunities to derive investment from the US and sources beyond the Dept of Health do exist. This will save the country money and maintain jobs locally.
On Thursday evening I was the Guest speaker at Wessex Community Action's AGM in Elizabeth Hall. The topic I spoke on was how "Big Society" will impact the voluntary sector locally. I think I had a sympathetic response but I recognise there is work to be done to streamline the bureaucracies that charities and the voluntary sector face when seeking support. I then visited the South Wiltshire Business Awards in the Playhouse - a brilliant event to celebrate the many businesses in our area. I was impressed by the determination of local businesspeople to weather the tough times. Congratulations to all the winners.
Friday's ritual school grilling was with 7-11 year olds in Pitton and I then visited Stonehenge Visitor Centre with representatives of English Heritage. I remain optimistic a solution can be found for the future of the development there, it is quite clear that the current facilities are inadequate and despite the rain the volume of visitors is very high. New funding sources are being explored and I hope a way forward can be found soon.
I finish on a sad note this week. My Private Secretary Sarah Axton announced her decision to resign on Friday. Sarah has been an excellent PA and worked for Robert Key for 8 years before me. It will be sad to see her go but it is the right decision for her family. So I will be looking for a new PA/Office Manager to help run the office in Morrison Hall. The ad is in this week's Salisbury Journal.... so I hope someone will be keen to take on the job....
John Glen MP
1st July 2010
The Budget dominated the news this week. As I sat on the backbenches I was struck by how the Chancellor had worked hard to alleviate some the pain on the poorest in our community. I don't deny it was a very tough budget for everyone but I think that the commitment to restore the link to earnings meaning that the basic state pension will rise was a welcome move as was the guaranteed £250 a year pay rise for those earning less that £21,000 per year. The VAT hike is a tough one to swallow but it shows what a dire state our nation's finances are in. It will be tough for every one over the next few years.
I had an Adjournment debate straight after the budget which is an opportunity for backbench MPs like me to raise a constituency matter on the floor of the House of Commons and force a Minister to the despatch box to answer questions. I asked the Minister about the proposed move of the CEPR at Porton to Harlow and whether all options had been looked at. It seems they haven't so I have a follow up meeting with officials in a few weeks. I also met the Chief Executive of the HPA in Westminster. He explained why he wants to move the CEPR to Porton - I am not convinced. It will be a tough battle over the summer.
On Friday I visited several schools and had what is becoming a ritual grilling - this time with Year 8 pupils at Chafyn Grove School. I then had a "surgery" at the Bowman Centre in Amesbury and finished up by catching the last few minutes of the Switzerland vs. Spain match in St Paul's Club on the Devizes Road. Saturday morning was spent meeting local business people in the Guildhall Square at Salisbury's Federation of Small Business's Trade Fair and then I ventured to the New Forest School Fayre on Nomansland Green.
The best event was undoubtedly attending the Armed Forces Day in Salisbury on Sunday. It was great to have Emma and the children with me to pay tribute to the work our Armed Forces do. I look forward to doing my best to stand up for their interests following my election by fellow Conservative MPs to join the Defence Select Committee - a sought after position that my predecessor Robert Key held in his last decade in Parliament. This is a great honour and one I look forward to working hard at during the coming months.
John Glen MP
24th June 2010
This week has been a tough one. I visited the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response at Porton to be told that the powers that be still want to move the facility to Harlow in Essex! I was not impressed by the arguments presented which did not address the huge potential to save public money by allowing the scientists to gain grants from the US and academia by becoming a cooperative and remaining locally based. Of course the site needs investment but it would be more expensive to recruit new scientists and build brand new high containment facilities elsewhere. On Tuesday (22nd) I raised the matter in a debate in the House of Commons... I will not rest until I get the assurances that money is not going to be wasted and local jobs remain local!
On Thursday we were given the news that Stonehenge will not receive the £10million promised to help build the much needed visitor centre. This is very disappointing and will mean we will urgently need to find new funds from non-governmental sources. I blame the previous Government for bequeathing us such appalling public finances but I think the decision was the wrong one by the Chief Secretary. Stonehenge has been waiting a long time for the money and it is a World Heritage Site. I will now work with the Tourism Minister John Penrose and English Heritage to help identify new funds. We must not give in yet!
My visits to local schools continue - over the last six weeks I have visited Salisbury High, Trafalgar, Bishop Wordsworth's and my grandmother's old school - South Wilts, as well as Wiltshire College. I also had a great visit to Harnham Infants and Juniors on Friday where I was given a grilling!
John Glen MP
17th June 2010
As Salisbury's new MP my time has flown by since my rendition of The Vly on the balcony of the White Hart Hotel on May 7th. I made my maiden speech at one of the earliest opportunities and I have now had three constituents' surgeries at my office in Brown St, in Downton and at Bemerton Heath and attended numerous constituency events. Residents' reactions have generally been positive apart from the anonymous caller who ticked me off for wearing the wrong trousers at Wilton's Royal British Legion Parade. You can't win them all! At least I was finally given an office to work from in Westminster last week!
Over the last month a lot has happened at Westminster too : a coalition has formed; the outgoing Chief Secretary made it clear that there is no money left and we now face the prospect of a budget next week that will involve the Liberal Conservative Government making tough choices on taxes that look likely to hurt many local businesses and families.
What is clear from the postbag so far is that the people of Salisbury are concerned about the changes that will come with the budget - uncertainty over jobs cuts and tax rises mean that we do all face challenging times. During the debates ahead I will be speaking up for the most vulnerable in our community and seeing that the changes that we do pass will have the desired effect of dealing with the debt and creating a path to growth and prosperity for all.
In particular I will be arguing that the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) changes, which are anticipated in the budget, must have the desired impact. It would be ludicrous if the CGT rate was raised only to find that many wealth creating businessmen and women left the country and took their job-creating capabilities with them - and as a consequence tax revenues fell making it impossible to afford changes for the lower paid.
The highlight of the week was attending the National Autistic Society reception in Westminster on Tuesday with Henry Clark who spoke movingly about his experience growing up with autism. He was a credit to himself, his family and Salisbury.
I look forward to giving the people of Salisbury a weekly account of my work as your MP .
John Glen MP
