The last month has undoubtedly been taken up by two significant events, the first being the handover from Tony Blair to Gordon Brown as leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister.  

Without doubt the conversation over the past few months has been what sort of Prime Minister Gordon Brown would make and I remember a conversation with two journalists just weeks before the ‘coronation’ of Gordon when it was clear that they were not expecting too much to happen when he took over. My view then, as it is now, is that Gordon’s style would be completely different to Blair’s and that having been a part of the Treasury for many years, he would be a force to be reckoned with. 

I have to say that his first job of setting up his cabinet and front bench team did have some surprises but overall I think he has put a good team together to deliver his policies. A mix of experience and youth it is forward-looking and the style he has started with is certainly different from that of his predecessor. I must admit to being one with raised eyebrows when some of his appointments came to light but knowing Gordon, his perception of what is expected by the people has been delivered. And let’s not forget he and Tony came into Government together as a team and stayed for the duration as a team, albeit with disagreements. Gordon has the opportunity to invite people into his team and there is no doubt who will be in control.  

The second of the major events was the recent spate of car bombs and attempted terrorist attacks. Throughout Westminster the state of alert has been ‘critical’ for a while and no doubt will remain as such, but the attack in Glasgow reminds us that the threat we face is throughout the UK and we must remain vigilant. There is no doubt our security and intelligence services are the best in the world, and now they will certainly have to be.  

The recent bad weather has given us another reminder of the climate changes. With  the floods of last August and September that some suffered in and around Great Yarmouth still in our minds, the events happening in the midlands and Yorkshire have been horrendous with some people losing their lives. There is no doubt that we have to respond to what now appears to be a regular event.   

On a lighter note, I was pleased to welcome Bill Russell from Blackfriar’s Brewery in Great Yarmouth up to Westminster last week. In the weeks beforehand I had arranged for Bill’s ‘Blackfriars Ale’ to be the guest ale served in the Members bar. Bill came up to sample his beer on the House of Commons terrace only for us to find when we got there that the beer had run dry within two days! The barman told us that usually it takes at least a week for a beer to sell out and yet Bill’s had lasted only two days, so already, Yarmouth’s beers are gaining fame—first Yarmouth, then London, next, well who knows!  

Back in the constituency last week I was delighted to officially open the new Hopton Medical Centre. The new Centre is certainly long overdue and was at times wrought with difficulties. However, due to the determination of many, including the PCT, the Parish Council, and Dr. Ajay Kumar it was finally achieved. However the event was also to mark the retirement of Dr. Kumar after over 30 years as a doctor, the vast majority of which was spent in Great Yarmouth. So it was a pleasure to see the new centre but also a time of sadness as a well thought of Doctor retires. 

Lastly, I would briefly like to touch upon the recent announcements made by the Conservatives about their policy on museum entry. First we heard from their shadow culture secretary, Hugo Swire, that the Conservatives would be scrapping free entry. After a lot of fuss, they then put out a retraction saying they would not scrap free admission. Having increased visitor numbers by over 80%, I for one sincerely hope not. Free admission to the country’s top museums has enabled everyone from all walks of life access art and culture that was previously denied to them, and is something the Conservatives seriously need to take stock of.