Another busy month, and as Christmas fast approaches, there is still more to be done.
In my role as a Whip, I have been kept very busy this month, serving on the Nationality & Borders Bill Committee and the Nuclear Energy (Financing) Committee. It has been a pleasure to work with the other MP’s on the Committees, and I know that the work we have done in scrutinising these bills line by line, will go a long way to benefiting the whole country if and when the Bills become legislation.
This month also saw the whole of the Calder Valley come together to remember those who have fought and died for this country in The Great War, and all the wars since. A stark reminder of the sacrifice so many men and women have made to fight for the freedoms we enjoy today. As always, there were many remembrance services taking place across the constituency, and whilst I couldn’t attend them all in person, I am always humbled to see hundreds of residents gather to their local cenotaph or church to remember those who have fought for our country.
I was delighted to host a coffee morning at St Mary’s church in Cottonstones. Thank you to all those who attended to discuss local and national issues. Please rest assured, that the issues you raised are being actioned, and I would hope to see them resolved in the very near future.
I was incredibly pleased to meet with the Prime Minister, and several other West Yorkshire MP’s at Huddersfield Train Station to discuss the new upgrade to Northern Rail, that will greatly benefit the people of the Calder Valley, with faster travel times and better comfort, for a lower cost. It was a very productive conversation, and I was able to speak directly to the Prime Minister about many of your views on this topic.
With the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 emerging, the Government have taken action. Whilst we can properly assess this new variant and ensure it does not present to great a risk to public safety, masks are once again mandatory in shops and on public transport. The restrictions will allow us to garner a better understanding of the new variant, and we will review them in three weeks time.
I would like to thank all the Calder Valley businesses and workers who have accommodated me for a visit including the Halifax bank branch in Brighouse, and local producers at Channel 4.
I would also like to thank those businesses who attended the last in a series of three webinars on how to export as a local business, hosted together with the Department of International Trade (DIT). This series of events have been very well received, and I hope they have helped give some good insight into how businesses, of all shapes and sizes, can grow to customers in other countries with the help and support of DIT.
Next month will be an even busier one in the run up to Christmas. Lots of constituency visits lined up and surgeries which are always great opportunities for me to hear what local residents think and how I can best represent them and the issues they care about in Parliament. As always, if you need my help with anything, would me to visit or meet with you, please email craig.whittaker.mp@parliament.uk