2017

I was delighted to keep a Walsall tradition alive and take part in the ceremony of Walking the Fair, an annual event which dates back as far as 1662. This is a tradition where local stall holders give a donation to the Mayor Councillor Kath Phillips JP for those in need as the Mayor does the walk. The photo shows l-r the Mayors Consort Maurice, to my left the Mayor and on the far right of the photo Cllr Eileen Russell, Councillor for St Matthews.

Following the recent announcement of a General Election, Business Questions to the Leader of the House was the last before Parliament is Prorogued and there is a dissolution of Parliament. I raised various issues with the Leader of the House, Rt Hon David Lidington MP. My speech is below:

I attended the Vaisakhi celebrations in Parliament on Tuesday 18 April 2017 organised by Pat McFadden, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East. Sikhs from the Black Country and across the country attended Mr Speaker’s apartments to celebrate Vaisakhi, one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar. It is the Sikh New Year festival and it also commemorates 1699, the year Sikhism was born as a collective faith.

Parliament returned after the Easter Recess and I responded to a statement made by the Leader of the House, Rt Hon David Lidington MP, on the motion for a Early Parliamentary General Election. My speech is below:

I attended the funeral service of PC Keith Palmer 1968-2017 at Southwark Cathedral on 10 April 2017 to remember PC Keith Palmer who was stabbed whilst on duty and protecting Parliament.