Duties don’t stop... but MP won’t be lugging red box through Dales
It’s the summer recess but work continues for MPS, and Sarah Dines has been out and about in her Derbyshire Dales constituency
AS you may be aware, it is currently the summer Parliamentary recess. This is not a holiday for Members of Parliament, as some people may think, but instead it is an opportunity to spend all of the week in their constituency.
As a government minister, my ministerial duties continue throughout the recess, alongside my constituency work. Thankfully, the ministerial red box is now available in digital format.
Ministerial red boxes are lead-lined and rather heavy. I thought it may be of interest to readers to hear what I have been doing this week so far.
On Monday I held one of my regular constituent surgeries and had six in-person constituent appointments, discussing local issues, care issues and national issues too.
I love holding my surgery, but it is a shame that I am unable to advertise it in the way I would hope to, as unfortunately, since the murder of my friend Sir David Amess, the parliamentary security advice means I am no longer able to advertise in advance.
Constituents write to me or send an email requesting a surgery ,and if I don’t have a surgery slot available, I endeavour to meet constituents face to face.
After my surgery, it was time for a team meeting. My parliamentary team work so hard and many of my constituents will have had communications with them by now.
I am always so keen to help constituents, and I could not help the thousands of constituents I have without the help of my team.
On Tuesday I was pleased to meet with the team at Ashbourne Football Club to discuss their ongoing plans.
I am fully behind them as they work to make the club more accessible and successful for local people.
I also had a Zoom meeting with a Derbyshire Ukrainian charity alongside other local Members of Parliament.
I have been helping a lot of local people to sponsor Ukrainian families, and I was so pleased to see these families enjoying their time in Derbyshire Dales.
I am not at all surprised that our community has been so welcoming, as my constituents have proven time and time again that they are very keen to help those in need.
I then continued my various business visits across the wide length and breadth of the constituency. I have made it my businesses to meet as many businesses as physically possible.
If you have a local business, and would like me to visit, please do let me know.
I do adore being back in the constituency during the recess. I have exchanged the noise of a city that I am used to during the working week in Parliament, with the noise of sheep bleating in the Derbyshire countryside. I do not take it for granted how lucky I am to represent our area, it is one of my greatest honours to serve you.
I have exchanged the noise of a city...with the noise of sheep bleating in the Derbyshire countryside. Sarah Dines