Today was my regular monthly ward surgery, and it was cold and very wet!
Cllrs Simon Carter, Tony Hall and myself hold a surgery with kind permission of Tesco in their Church Langley store foyer on the first Saturday of every month between Noon and Two.
If you live in Church Langley why not pop in an see us!
About time!
Nothing gets the goat of my friends more than the injustices of the Human Rights Act, it is often the subject that is fallen back on time and again at the end of a nights conversations or over a few drinks.
What makes it all the more galling is that we Brits are not against Human Rights! Far from it in fact. As a nation we have seem to have decency hard-wired into us, whether it be protecting the rights of refugees to this country or protecting the rights of those oppressed by evil dictators abroad, sending our troops to bleed and die time and again for the rights of others.
But how frustrating has it been to see Labour’s Human Rights Act trampling on the rights of the law abiding many in support of the rights of a criminal few?
How frustrating has it been to see the European Court of Human Rights overruling British Laws and British Judges?
How frustrating to see Article Eight particularly used as a catch all by criminals and terrorist sympathisers tosubvert common sense?
And so I applaud Chris Grayling when he says that a Conservative Government after the next General Election will ensure that British Courts have the ultimate authority with the Strasbourg court being no more than an advisory body.
But as I consistently tell a good but sadly lefty friend of mine there is a clear difference between Human Rights and the Human Rights Act. One is the principle of goodness that transcends the laws of man and the other is a piece of ill thought though meddling by a Labour government more preoccupied with spin than substance.
So it is right and proper that we continue to protect the rights of people, decent hard-working law abiding people as should be expected . These rights do and should come hand in hand with responsibilities though, something often ignored by those on the left of politics.
That is why the British Bill of Rights and Responsibilities should be welcomed.
And that is why when Chris Grayling comes to speak to Harlow Conservatives, later this year, in support of our hard working MP Robert Halfon, I will shake his hand and thank him.
I really can’t say more than this……….
A shockingly long day today, which saw me go direct from the train home from work onto a School Governors meeting.
It is often said if you want something done ask a busy person and looking around at my fellow governors tonight I realised just how true this was; as sitting around the table were some of the busiest people I know!
It was also reassuring to think that those people around the table discussing the school budget were all there for the good of the school that they loved, not for financial reward.
Being a school governor is incredibly rewarding and schools need the talents that governing bodies bring from their everyday jobs, be it financial, legal, HR, marketing or just plain thinking and a challenging nature.
Perhaps you would make a good school governor at a school near you?
This morning saw Harlow’s Civic Service at St Paul’s Church in the town centre.
I was privileged to be asked by the current Chairman of the council to read the Psalm.
The Civic Service is a really nice moment in the towns political life as Councillors from all political parties come together to pray for the town that they all serve.
It reminds me that my service to my hometown of Harlow is also a service and sacrifice to the Lord whose Kingdom is everlasting.
Here is the Psalm:
Psalm 145
A psalm of praise. Of David.
I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you.
They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.