TALKING POLITICS We must address domestic issues

Now the festive period has drawn to a close it is only right to acknowledge and pay tribute to the emergency services.

While the rest of us enjoyed being with family and catching up with friends, these dedicated individuals, who include the armed forces, charities and voluntary organisations, were working tirelessly to keep us safe and ensure no one in desperate need suffered needlessly at this time; as we enter a new decade I thank them for all they do.

By any standards 2019 proved to be a particularly traumatic and difficult year which saw the nation deeply divided. The December general election dominated political discussion at the end of last year.

The result restored order to the Westminster Parliament and ended the humiliation of the last three-and-a-half years. It is to be hoped that we can all move on and deliver the result of the 2016 EU Referendum, grasp the opportunities it undoubtedly presents, and turn our attention to the many and pressing domestic issues which must be addressed.

They say time is a great healer and collectively, within the UK, we need a period of stability free from the abuse which has dominated social media with sometimes devastating consequences for our young people.

I want to highlight two different events which, even when the political discourse was at its most volatile, demonstrate that in the background, cross-party cooperation and activity still took place.

Dyslexia young ambassadors – in November I was pleased, as convener of the cross-party group on dyslexia, to welcome dyslexia young ambassadors to Parliament, and make a point of inviting the Secretary of State for Education to meet with them.

It was an event that thrilled the young people and saw cross-party co-operation to highlight the excellent work these young people do raising awareness about the challenges those with dyslexia still face, at every stage in life.

Financial abuse – the second event was a member’s debate in December which I, with representatives of all parties, spoke at to highlight a particular aspect of coercive and controlling domestic abuse, namely financial abuse; this is where the abuser uses financial dependency to control the victim’s life.

The debate was timely as Christmas and New Year is a trigger point for domestic abuse. Increased spending is stressful generally, but for those suffering from financial abuse it causes greater misery.

The motion debated stressed the role financial institutions can play in tackling financial abuse. Here, the Royal Bank of Scotland ( RBS) has introduced an encouraging initiative, partnered with the UK charity SafeLives which is dedicated to eradicating domestic abuse completely.

The charity will review the bank’s policies and procedures to ensure it provides the best possible support fot those affected by financial abuse.

I wish Advertiser readers a happy and, above all, healthy 2020 and hope that this year we can all strive to be more tolerant.

Grateful Ms Mitchell, pictured with Inspector Steven McGovern, has paid tribute to the work of the emergency services over the festive period