Parliament’s six-week Summer Recess is ending, and I’m returning to the routine of being in London for half the week.
Although the sunny weather hasn’t helped our farmers, it has meant I’ve managed to enjoy some evenings on the beach, swimming with my family. I’m always grateful for time back in the constituency – even if being at home doesn’t actually mean my family see much more of me. It’s a valuable opportunity for me to catch up on the work that Westminster time often doesn’t allow. Over the summer, I’ve had meetings with Dorchester BID, Dorset Healthcare, Royal Mail, Access Wellbeing, the Woodland Trust, Sherborne Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Group, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service, and the new Chief Executive of Dorset Council. I’ve visited Bridport Clothes Bank, the Poundbury Nature Project, Hilfield Priory, three care homes, the Pineapple Estate near Bridport, Beaminster Museum, Fire Pot Food, the Sherborne Steam and Waterwheel Centre, Dorset Downs Vineyard, and Bagwell Farm Touring Park, among others. I spent a day with South Western Ambulance Service to better understand the pressures they face, and visited Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance. I spoke on the NFU panel at the Melplash Show – and I’ve been to more village fetes than I can count!
I held dozens of residents’ surgeries, and continued hosting policy round tables – this month’s focused on support for West Dorset’s hospitality sector. I also toured villages I haven’t visited in a while, holding Q&As in village halls to discuss local and national concerns. Over the summer, I held meetings in Broadmayne, Martinstown, Whitchurch Canonicorum, Chetnole, Thorncombe, Netherbury, Litton Cheney, Cheselbourne, Toller Porcorum and Stratton. Each one was well attended – and I’m grateful to everyone who came along to ask questions, give me a grilling, and share what matters to them.
This week I was told that since February I’ve submitted 760 questions to Ministers — only two MPs have written more. As I return to Parliament, the last six weeks have given me plenty more to a write to them about!
Edward Morello
LibDem MP for West Dorset
