I am humbled to be elected as your representative in Parliament and will be dedicated to our community. It means even more to me and my family that I am MP for my home constituency.
We have a number of important issues ahead of us locally including fighting against HS2, ensuring that the George Eliot Hospital is properly supported and giving residents a voice over controversial planning developments. We must carry on the hard work that saw local unemployment drop to a record-low and ensure that local businesses continue to thrive.
Parliament is now finally back down to business and I attended the State Opening, which is the main ceremonial event of the parliamentary calendar. It is the only regular occasion that the three constituent parts of Parliament – the Sovereign, the House of Commons and the House of Lords – meet.
It begins with the Queen's procession from Buckingham Palace and on her arrival at Parliament, wearing the Imperial State Crown and the Robe of State. Her Majesty leads the Royal Procession through the Royal Gallery to the chamber of the House of Lords. The House of Lords' official 'Black Rod' is then sent to summon the Commons. Members of the House of Commons then follow Black Rod and the Commons Speaker to the Lords' chamber, where we stand at the opposite end to the Throne.
This is quite a spectacle to be part of and quite an experience first-hand. There is, however, an important finale when the Queen delivers her speech, which sets out the government's plans for the upcoming year.
Some of the key priorities we have set out as a government for the next 12 months are as follows:
- Provision of a seven-day-a-week NHS – giving the security that you will be able to access a free and high-quality health service when you need it most
- Tax-free minimum wage – nobody earning minimum wage will pay any income tax ever again
- Support for working parents – we're backing working families with 30 hours of free childcare a week for parents of three and four-year-olds
- Triple lock on basic state pension – the basic state pension will increase by at least 2.5 per cent every year. We are also capping the rate that you will be charged for residential care.
- Five-year tax lock – National Insurance, Income Tax and VAT will not be raised during this Parliament
- EU Referendum Bill – we will give people a vote on our EU membership by 2017
I think this is an excellent start for the first majority Conservative Government in 18 years and, I feel, it has addressed many of the main concerns that were raised to me during the many hours I spent on the doorstep in North Warwickshire.
There is much work to do in the five years ahead, but this shows a real commitment to benefit all sectors of society and I will be doing my part to ensure that our local residents get the best deal and are properly represented in Westminster.
Craig Tracey MP
Member of Parliament for North Warwickshire & Bedworth