In the last few weeks I invited veterans to contact me regarding the Armed Forces Veteran’s Lapel Badge and to say we’ve had a good response would be an understatement! In the last week I was even contacted by a Veteran living in the Netherlands! I will be organising a presentation event in July and will send out information to all those who have been in contact nearer the time. I should also like to note that there is a Merchant Seafarers Veteran’s Badge and again if anyone wishes to claim a badge, please do not hesitate to get in contact with my office. This badge is open to Merchant Navy seafarers or fishermen who served in a vessel operated to facilitate military operations at any time prior to 31 December 1984. 

The last month also saw the beginning of the Labour Party’s leadership and deputy leadership contests, seeing the unanimous nomination of Gordon Brown for party leader. Whilst I would have nominated Gordon myself, I would have liked to have seen an election with some choice. Nevertheless, choice is not short on the deputy leadership. With Hilary Benn, Hazel Blears, Harriet Harman, Jon Cruddas, Peter Hain and Alan Johnson as the six contenders, party members have quite a choice.  

Another vote that’s got everyone talking was the vote a few weeks ago on the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill. The Bill, which was put forward by Conservative MP David Maclean has the dual purposes of exempting the Houses of Parliament from Freedom of Information laws and also exempting correspondence from MPs. On the latter of these exemptions, I am supportive – it is my view that the correspondence I receive from constituents should remain confidential and that constituents are entitled to privacy. However, there has been a lot of criticism that this exemption is for the MPs own purposes to hide their spending. Personally, I would make no hesitation in publishing my allowances and would do so even if this Bill does not make it necessary. I think it is essential that members of the public can hold their MPs accountable for their spending, and any step away from this would be a step backwards. However, I am confident that this Bill will not be wrongly used, and instead that it will afford constituents the confidentiality they are entitled to.  

In the last few months I have had a great deal of correspondence regarding the Off Road Vehicle Registration Bill. It is important to point out this is not a government sponsored bill but a private one. The government have opposed the bill all along since it is felt there is sufficient legislation already in place to deal with the issue – this is a view that I also subscribe to. Unfortunately the correspondence I have received has come from newspaper clippings and postcards which people have signed without writing down their address. For those of you that have written to me asking to vote against the bill but not included your address, please note that I am not supportive of the bill and will be voting it through.   

On a more serious note, I am receiving increasing amounts of post with racist and xenophobic overtones. The majority of claims being made against foreign nationals in these letters are simply not true. Claims that asylum seekers get free cars, ‘jump the queue’ for council housing and get free TV licences are simply false, and I would urge anyone that hears others repeating such claims to set the record straight. I have produced a document to dispel some of these myths and would be happy to send a copy to anyone wishing to know more. I understand that there are some very real concerns for people and I am always happy to listen and take action where necessary, so if you have a genuine concern, please do get in contact.  

Lastly, I was delighted last week to open Great Yarmouth’s first ever beer festival. In 2004 Bill Russell founded Blackfriars Brewery restoring a 300 year old tradition of brewing to the town. Since then Blackfriar’s Brewery has gone from strength to strength with its bitter taking the Champion Beer title at the Norwich Beer Festival and now supplying local pubs, bars and hotels in Great Yarmouth with demand growing. Following this success the Brewery, along with the Town Centre Partnership, Norfolk Police, the Priory Centre, and the Yarmouth Mercury worked together to bring us Yarmouth’s first ever beer festival. I do hope many of you managed to get along to sample the beers on offer. I am sure we will be seeing an annual beer festival in the town following its success, and I would like to say a big ‘cheers’ to everyone involved.