Julie Morgan MP

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Time to get down to business

This column appears in this week's "Cardiff Post".

Sometimes the world of Westminster seems far removed from ordinary life.

When the Queen came to the Houses of Parliament this week to deliver the Queen's Speech, I was struck by what an extraordinary event it is, full of pomp, ceremony and ritual.

The Queen made her way from the Sovereign's Entrance into the House of Lords to deliver the Speech which sets out the Government's programme for the next 18 months. The schedule looks packed, with a total of 45 Bills being proposed.

The opening itself involves traditional dress, ceremonial language and famous symbolic acts such as the shutting of the door of the House of Commons in Black Rod's face. Black Rod approaches on behalf of the monarch, but when the door is closed, he has to hammer on it to be let in. Only then can he tell the assembled MPs that the monarch awaits them in the House of Lords. The closing of the door symbolises the independence of the Commons from the monarch, and dates back to the time of Charles I.

The State Opening of Parliament is one of the set pieces of the Parliamentary year, but it does seem a long way away from the doorsteps of Cardiff where I spent most of April on the campaign trail. Tradition in Westminster is important, but I hope it doesn't make people feel that what happens in the House of Commons has nothing to do with them.

One of my aims over the course of this next Parliament will be to try even more to link what happens in Westminster to what happens in Cardiff - to show people that even though Parliament seems like an extraordinary place, what actually happens there has everything to do with ordinary life.

And I think that people are willing to be interested in politics. When I met people on the doorsteps during the election campaign, I didn't find much cynicism. What I did find was a real engagement with issues and a real willingness to talk about them. People were, on the whole, glad to see me and seemed to want to engage in discussion about issues like Iraq and council tax.

In previous elections, I found that people more readily identified themselves with a particular party, but this time, their support for one party or another wasn't as automatic. They were basing their decision of who to vote for on real consideration of specific issues.

I learned a lot from talking to people on the doorsteps, and I think that this is something that I will try to do on more of a regular basis. I do make a huge effort to keep in contact with people through things like newsletters, public meetings, surgeries and this column; but there's nothing quite like talking with people directly about what's on their minds.

It's a two-way process. It allows me to tell constituents what is happening in Westminster and it allows constituents to tell me what issues they would like me to pursue on their behalf in the House of Commons.

So - the Queen has delivered her speech. She's now departed in her horse-drawn carriage, taken off her crown and left us to our work in Westminster. She has done her part. Now we must all do ours.

Posted at 02:30 pm by juliemorgan
Make a comment Permalink

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Delivering on our promises

The Queen's Speech. Unprecedented number of Bills (45!) for us to consider in the 18 months that will form this Session of Parliament. I personally welcome the clause in the new Health Bill which will give the National Assembly for Wales the power to decide whether it will introduce a complete ban on smoking in public places. This was the subject of my Private Member's Bill in the last Session (you can read the debate here). I also welcome the Education and Childcare Bill (legislating to provide childcare from 8am to 6pm) and the Work and Families Bill, which will extend maternity leave and pay. I am glad, too, that the Equalities Bill is coming back.

I hope that the new Session will also include some debate on council tax. This was a big issue at the General Election. Of course, the Lyons Review into local government finance will not report until the end of this year; but I do feel that the system has to change. Hopefully, it can be made fairer, particularly for people on low or fixed incomes.

Also fun trying to spot the MPs who are hiding out in Central Lobby so that when the MPs, having been summoned by Black Rod, leave the Commons for the Lords, they can quickly jump the queue and get a good spot at the Bar of the Upper House. Rumour has it that MPs have been known to hide behind pillars and scamper quickly into the procession when no-one is looking. Personally I like to leave attending until the debate proper starts some hours after the Queen delivers her speech - but there's no doubt that the pomp and pageantry is a fine way to start the Parliament!

Posted at 02:53 pm by juliemorgan
Make a comment Permalink

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Nothing quite like winning!

This column appears in this week's "Cardiff Post".

There's nothing quite like waiting for the ballot papers to be counted - it's an incredibly nerve-racking experience, especially is the result is as close as it was this time in Cardiff North.

It's also the one night of the year when you know that you won't get any sleep at all.

We all assembled in the CIA after the polls closed at 10pm. The ballot papers for all four Cardiff seats were being counted there so the place was packed out with candidates, supporters and the count staff.

As I watched the ballot papers being sorted and counted, I felt heartened when I saw a vote cast for me and humbled when I saw one cast for someone else. And like the other candidates, I spent my time wandering around asking my supporters how they thought things looked.

You might think you've got the slight edge, but you don't really know until the count staff start putting the ballot papers into bundles of 500 and then start putting them on a big table behind a piece of card with your name on it. You can then see whether you have more or less bundles than your nearest opponent. And as the count staff approach with another bundle, your nerves intensify until it's put in your pile.

In the end, I won by just over two bundles - 1,146 votes. It seemed remarkable that such an extraordinary event was decided by such ordinary things - two piles of paper. I was delighted to win the seat and I feel very priviledged to represent Cardiff North again.

There's nothing quite like the feeling that people have voted for you and put their faith in you.

It was a disappointing night for others though. For my party, it was very sad that we Cardiff Central fall. And throughout the UK, I saw many good friends and colleagues defeated at the ballot box. That's the thing about politics. One day you've got everything and the next day you've got nothing and have to clear out your office post-haste. I also felt sorry for those who lost in Cardiff North - I know what it feels like to lose an election as well as to win one.

But as I left the CIA at about 4am, I found myself looking forward to some recovery time and I also felt invigorated and ready to take on the next four or five years.

During this next term, I will have local, national and international priorities. I aim to continue with the campaign to save the Llanishen and Lisvane reservoirs, to try to get safer communities in places like Mynachdy, Llanishen, Whitchruch and Gabalfa, to bring more youth facilities to our community, to work for a ban on smoking in enclosed public places in Wales and do more work on international development.

As well as working on the manifesto programme and legislative agenda in Westminster, I do have the opportunity as an MP to raise specific issues. If you have any thoughts about what you would like me to work on in the House of Commons or Cardiff North, please get in touch. I can be contacted on (029) 20 624166, at morganj@parliament.uk or at 17 Plasnewydd, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 1NR.

Posted at 02:07 pm by juliemorgan
Make a comment Permalink

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

The will of the House

Back to Parliament for the election of the Speaker, always the first business after a General Election. This is another curious affair. Michael Martin was unanimously re-elected, but traditions have to be observed: he has to make a speech submitting himself to the will of the House, and has to be "dragged" to the Chair. This comes from centuries ago, when the Speaker was reluctant to take up his position in case the King or Queen "disapproved" of him and showed their displeasure in manifestly unpleasant ways! Michael Martin has been a good Speaker and has overcome some of the initial doubts about him — some of which were very unfair, to say the least.

Geoff Hoon also made his debut as Leader of the House. I hope that he will follow in Robin Cook and Peter Hain's footsteps and take forward the modernisation of the Commons. We took a real step backwards at the end of the last Parliament when we voted to go back to the old sitting hours on Tuesdays, meaning that we start at 2.30pm and go on until very late in the evening. I always feel that we should try and reflect the working hours ordinary people work wherever possible! Hopefully progress can be made on making the House more comprehensible to the layman over the next four to five years.

Posted at 02:13 pm by juliemorgan
Make a comment Permalink

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

New term, new blog

Following in the footsteps of my colleagues Tom Watson and Leighton Andrews, I've decided to start keeping this blog as a new way of communicating with my constituents. I hope you enjoy it!

I was very proud to be re-elected as MP for Cardiff North on May 5. I have enjoyed the last eight years immensely and want to continue my work for our community. Hopefully, this blog will be another way that my constituents can keep informed about my work for them in Cardiff and in Westminster.

Since 1997, I've dealt with thousands of cases on behalf of my constituents. As ever, people can get in touch with me at the constituency office at 17 Plasnewydd, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 1NR; telephone (029) 20 624166; fax (029) 20 623661; and e-mail morganj@parliament.uk.

Also, visit my main website here.

Posted at 02:03 pm by juliemorgan
Make a comment Permalink