Letter from Westminster and Bristol, 2nd June 2008

Letter from Westminster and Bristol, 2nd June 2008

This letter covers two weeks, with Parliament sitting for only one of them. I've met the Dalai Lama, visited Crewe, been on Radio 5, voted on the controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill and spoken out on post office closures and much else...

When the Post Office announced a consultation on closing another four branches in Bristol back in February I was sceptical as to whether they were open minded about a change of plan. Back in 2004 I had spoken at meetings, collected petitions and given oral and written evidence. But the four offices proposed for closure then were duly closed. I suspected much the same this time but still put the case. I sent a detailed letter to the consultation team and this time I was able to

present a petition in the House of Commons itself.

But once again the signatures of thousands of people and the opinions of MPs and councillors have been ignored. Very soon the post offices at Alma Vale Road, Derby Road, Redcliffe Hill and Wellington Hill West will close, as will another eight across Bristol. So expect long queues and much frustration at the much truncated branch network. New Labour has twisted and spun out of recognition many words in the last eleven years

• "consultation" is surely one of them.

A more positive Bristol story is the enhanced service now available on the Severn Beach Line. The new timetable was launched in an event at Clifton Down station on 19th May. This will provide two trains an hour for the first time. The subsidy needed for the extra train comes from the Lib Dem budget that was passed in March 2007 when we still had a minority administration. Friends of Bristol Suburban Railways organised a celebration to mark the arrival of the extra train. In my speech I pointed out that this was a welcome first step. Bristol still has a very poor local rail service, particularly when compared to other cities such as Cardiff. On Sunday morning (yesterday) I was back at Clifton Down, this time for the official launch of the Sunday service. After more speeches we travelled to Avonmouth and back, taking in the pretty views of the Avon Gorge. If you've not caught the train before, it's a great way to see an alternative view of Bristol. And it's also a much faster way of reaching Temple Meads, which is my main use of the line.

I made use of a Virgin Pendolino train (much better than FGW's trains) out of London Euston to Crewe, the day before the by election. I spent a pleasant day in the sun delivering leaflets in the centre of Nantwich (great for fans of vernacular architecture like me) and then Crewe. On election night I was on the panel on the Richard Bacon show on Radio 5.

We were on before the declaration, discussing the state of British politics. The result itself was certainly a slap in the face for Gordon Brown. There is no reason for Liberal Democrats to be downcast by the Tory win. This was always a Labour - Tory marginal and not our show.

But we withstood the "squeeze" and got 15% of the vote. I doubt if the third place Labour vote in Henley will prove to be as resilient. I suspect I'll be making several visits to Boris's old seat.

I was in Westminster on the day of the by election. The Dalai Lama was paying a visit to Parliament - not to meet Gordon Brown who disgracefully refused to meet him on political territory. Instead he was welcomed to Parliament by Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg, plus some colleagues. We were all introduced - I'm afraid all I could say briefly was "welcome to London" and he said "nice to be hear", with his famous laugh and smile. Then he and Nick walked off, arm in arm, cutting an unusual sight with the short spiritual leader in a red gown and red shoes and our rather taller, traditionally dressed leader!

The main Parliamentary business was two days for the detailed consideration of the more controversial parts of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. For most of my votes in my first three years as an MP I've been certain which way to go. I either had already thought through the issues or the political battle lines were clear. The HFE Bill is different. As there are ethical considerations Lib Dem MPs had a free vote and to some extent the other parties did as well. Among the many issues there were two in the Bill, stem cell research and IVF treatment plus the issue of abortion, not in the Bill but the subject of amendments to add in changes.

So as well as doing quite a lot of advance reading about the issues and discussing the issues with colleagues, I sat through virtually all the debates. On extensions to stem cell and embryo research I sided with all the pro-science arguments and voted against all the amendments that would restrict advances in medical research. On IVF, the main issue was the removal of the wording in the 1990 legislation (the current HFE Bill is the update of the 18 year old legislation and thus aims to set the scientific and ethical framework for at least another decade) that required doctors to consider the "need for a father" before giving IVF treatment to women. This is held to discriminate against the small number of lesbian mothers. I voted to remove the requirement and substitute "supportive parenting" which allows a look at the environment in which a child is to be raised, but from an unprejudiced viewpoint. This is no way suggests that I don't consider that children (boys in particular) don't need male role models in life.

On abortion, my personal view is that although I find the procedure upsetting, I have to accept that it will (and always has) happen and it is better within a legal framework and medical supervision. The various recent studies show that there is no significant change in foetus viability at less than 24 weeks, the term limit that was set in 1990. I therefore voted against all the various restrictions and to keep the law the same.

Pleasingly, my votes were in line with the vast majority of letters I have received from constituents on this subject.

Apart from the HFE Bill, Parliamentary business was rather light. As well as the usual mix of meetings to do with my Innovation, Universities and Skills, my main duty was to make a speech to the conference of the Adult and Continuing Education Association. They asked me to speak on links between culture and learning. I found this easier than at first thought and it gave me an opportunity to talk about examples, including the National Trust's programme of conservation skills at Tyntesfield, the home of one of my Bristol West MP predecessors.

Parliament, like schools, has a Whitsun half term. That didn't mean a rest on bank holiday Monday for me. I was in the Radio Bristol studio for the 8.10am interview slot. There had been three stabbings in Bristol over the weekend. Last year I had presented a petition in Downing Street, calling for tougher sentences for knife possession. The petition had been organised by Ashley councillor Shirley Marshall, who has been the subject of partisan, unfair and inaccurate criticism by Bristol East's Labour MP recently. The government has since increased the sentence from 2 years to 4 years for carrying a knife. But few sentences are handed down by the courts. I point out that the changes in the criminal law are just part of the answer, indeed Labour has had Crime Bill diarrhoea in the last eleven years. There are wider social issues including the casualisation of violence on TV and in video games and the rise in binge drinking.

While on the way to Crewe I received my telephone advance briefing from the council's Director of Education on the conclusions of the review of primary level schools. The changes in Bristol West are mainly amalgamations of infant and junior schools on the same site, some welcome rebuilding and refurbishments and only one complete closure.

The closure is proposed for St George's School on Brandon Hill. This is the oldest school building in Bristol and on my visits there I have seen the cramped conditions. I will be looking into how provision for the city centre (which has an expanding population) can be enhanced and future proofed. Similarly, population growth in Bishopston and Ashley Down means that extra class places are vital but already far behind a desirable schedule.

I held two surgeries during this period. One was the normal by appointment session in the Council House. The other was a drop by stall in Clifton Down shopping centre, which was an opportunity for more people to stop and chat.

Among my meetings and visits in Bristol were Southmead Police Station, Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Trust and the Terrance Higgins Trust where I met a group of people with HIV.

You may have noticed the building work going on around the Colston Hall.

This is a multi-million pound scheme to provide extra performance space plus much needed catering and bar facilities for concert goers. Along with cllr Simon Cook, who was Lib Dem exec member for Culture when the plans were approved, we clambered (wearing hard hats!) up ladders to the very top of the scaffolding. The views from the top floor bar restaurant will be amazing. I was also fascinated by the up close detail of the brickwork on the Victorian building. When this project opens next year a visit to the Colston Hall will certainly be much enhanced. But there is still a need to revamp the auditorium and restore the small theatre that currently functions as the bar.

By contrast, I visited another organisation that does great work on a shoe string. Barton Hill Boxing Club is run by a dedicated team of volunteer coaches. On the evening I visited the run down premises were full of young people. They are engaged in a purposeful activity that will give them fitness and personal discipline. Since visiting I have urged several organisations to give them the extra support they need.

Finally, last Saturday we had a great turnout of people to gather petition signatures for our campaign against the Labour/Tory administration's plan for a mass burn incinerator at Avonmouth. I went round Montpelier and St Pauls with local councillors Jon Rogers and Shirley Marshall. I oppose an incinerator as it will remove an incentive to continue expansion of our recycling service. This more than tripled under the Lib Dem minority administration from 2005 - 2007 but has stalled again under the Labour/Tory pact that has ruled Bristol for the last year. There is also a better alternative for residual waste - a pyrolysis plant that "cooks" the waste and can also generate power. I've put this issue up for comment on the site www.hearfromyourmp.com which has 300 subscribers in Bristol West. Go and have a look if you are not one of them!