Stephen's Week
April 19, 2006 7:15 PM
By Stephen Williams MP
By Stephen Williams MP
No Letter from Westminster and Bristol for the last two weeks as Parliament has been in recess. But I've still been busy, while managing to have a bit of time away from politics.
The wonders of email mean that I can deal with my parliamentary avalanche of email from home...and probably with a quicker response as there are no votes or debates!
In fact I spent the first two days of recess in London catching up on the paperwork that is best done there, as I'd fallen behind because of my illness. I also attended the annual Arts & Business Awards Ceremony in the Barbican Centre, along with Cllr Simon Cook the council's Exec Member for Leisure. We were there with representatives from Watershed and Hewlett Packard who have been working together on projects for some time. Sadly, they didn't win in their category but Bristol based Orange plc did win a prize.
Back in Bristol I spent a morning in prison! I was at Horfield jail to meet a group of prisoners who have been trained by the Samaritans to act as 'listeners' for other prisoners. The idea is that depressed or anguished inmates can speak to another prisoner. This will help reduce the self harm of prisoners and reduce tension. I have been alarmed in the past to read reports of suicides in prison and I think this scheme deserves recognition. I also had a useful meeting with the prison governor and some of her senior managers.
I've also met with a group campaigning for a reintroduction of passenger train services to Portishead and with traders about the state of Stokes Croft.
The highlight of the last fortnight was the Brunel bicentenary celebrations on 8 April. From the Avon Gorge hotel terrace I watched the switching on of the new bridge illuminations and then the spectacular firework display.
I've spent a bit of time over in Wales and Brunel is being commemorated there too. There's an exhibition at the excellent new National Waterfront Museum in Swansea. I hope that Bristol's new museum will incorporate some of the display ideas.
But of course a lot of my time has been taken up with canvassing and delivering leaflets for the City Council election. We have had help from other MPs and Chris Rennard.
By amazing coincidence I spent a day visiting Brecon and got back to Bristol by early evening so I could go canvassing with Brecon & Radnor MP Roger Williams! Roger had a good time, as did the two members he brought with him.
Help from far afield is welcome, and I hope everyone locally will do their bit.
I'm off back to Westminster Tuesday morning but will be limiting my time away from now until polling day on 4th May so I can help here.
Best wishes
Stephen
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