6 May next year – the date already fixed for local elections, I could, of course, be wrong. Only time will tell. But I am fairly confident that will indeed be the date.
It means that I am now on a round of “last” engagements.
Last Saturday was my last Lydd Club Day as Member of Parliament. Sunday was my last Hythe Civic services in that capacity.
I have always enjoyed Lydd Club Day – and have attended 27 of the last 28. It has a long and illustrious tradition, brings all sections of the community together and is a true manifestation of the community spirit for which Lydd is justly famous.
The excellent Hythe Civic Service was the first under Town Mayor Keren Belcourt and Hythe’s new vicar, the Reverend Tony Windross. The service had a real family feel about it and was followed by a parade in which the Salvation Army Band of The Hague played with great gusto. There was a good turnout for the parade and in Hythe, too, community spirit was well to the fore.
I attend these events now with very mixed feelings. They have been part of my life for 26 years but next year they will be attended by a different Member of Parliament. And that, of course, is as it should be. Time moves on and so must I.
I was struck by these thoughts when voting for a new Speaker in the House of Commons on Monday. What looked at one time likely to be a very protracted process in fact took just three ballots.
Hopefully it will be the last time the choice is made by secret ballot. I think Members of Parliament should be accountable for the way we vote. I voted for Sir George Young. As you know he was not elected.
I hope, for the sake of our parliamentary democracy, that John Bercow makes a superb Speaker.
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