Chronicle column: Parliament, Voting, and Ministerial Meetings

A lot happens between Monday when I arrive in London, and Wednesday or Thursday evening when I typically return home.  There are almost no set requirements for how an MP uses their time.  

I have freedom to choose what I advocate for in Parliament. My conversations with constituents and their emails and letters, steer those choices.  

Discussing the campaign to increase paid paternity leave with the Minister for Employment Rights, Justin Madders.

Parliamentary votes and the spoken contributions that I make – such as at Prime Minister’s Questions or other speeches – are sometimes reported in this paper. They are relatively visible. Both are important, but time consuming.  

Voting is still done by walking through the ‘division lobbies’ - basically a corridor beside the House of Commons chamber - in person and tapping your pass on a reader. It happens at unpredictable times, which can make it difficult to know exactly what it is I’ll be doing that day, never mind scheduling meetings. It regularly takes up to a couple of hours per day.  

I enjoy speaking in the House of Commons but what is not seen is that it requires hours in the Chamber to make one or two points. Sometimes after all the hanging around, too many people want to contribute, and you do not get to speak at all. It can be useful for making a specific point to a minister on behalf of a constituent, raising the profile of an important topic, or establishing your reputation amongst colleagues.  

As a means of getting stuff done or changed, it’s only effective as part of a wider plan of advocacy, often working alongside colleagues. I coordinate closely with my neighbouring MPs for Crewe, Mid Cheshire and Macclesfield. 

There is a lot of work happening behind the scenes. Often, this is where the most impact is achieved.  

I regularly attend ministerial briefings. In these, groups of Labour MPs who are united by an interest in the topic are briefed about upcoming legislative changes or broader government thinking on particular areas. I am vice-chair of the Labour backbench committee on education. 

Attending meetings is only useful if you’re either learning or contributing something. It takes time to get up to speed as a new MP, and I’m increasingly able to effectively use my voice. As I mentioned in my last column, since January alone, I’ve been to ministerial meetings on the asylum and immigration system (twice on different elements), the health service, roads, Northern rail, leasehold, farms and agriculture, homelessness, welfare reform (repeatedly), the justice system, child poverty, the spending review, Northern Rail, and the Middle East and the Israel-Gaza conflict.  

With Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

You can imagine the points I’ve raised in many of these meetings. Often, they are an opportunity to develop or maintain pressure about something I’ve also raised publicly in parliament and in letters to ministers. I regularly advocate for children, especially for those with SEND in the education system, and children experiencing poverty within our otherwise affluent community.  

I’ve spoken previously about seeking improvements in transport infrastructure, especially potholes and road safety, I use my participation in the National Farmers’ Union Food & Farming Fellowship programme for new MPs, to make sure my points in Departure of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs meetings, are well informed.  

I am very conscious that many people have a strong Christian faith in our community. In respect of the Middle East, one of the questions I asked was about the protection of religious minorities in Syria, including Christians and the Alawite Muslim minority. The minister was able to reassure me that he has been actively advocating for them and had received reassurances from the Syrian administration.  

Obviously one to one meetings with ministers are a fantastic opportunity to advocate for you, and I take up any opportunity to have one.  

As you may have seen, my celebration of Cheshire Day included some of the excellent independent businesses in the constituency. Small businesses are vital to communities like ours.  

I met with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, to talk about this. Primarily, this was to encourage the work that we are already doing to support hospitality businesses. I have met with hospitality businesses in Holmes Chapel and in Congleton, and any work that we can continue doing to support them is something I will continue to speak up for in Parliament. I also spoke to him about paternity leave, and the fact that the review that we are doing on that must prioritise measures to protect Dads taking paternity leave from any discrimination they may face. 

On paternity leave, I also met with Under-Secretary of State for Business Justin Madders. Alongside campaign groups Pregnant then Screwed, Working Families UK, and The Dad Shift UK, we continued to lobby for increased paid paternity leave. This would aid not only in giving fathers more time with their family, but in preventing maternity discrimination. 

Housing, as you well know, is an ongoing discussion in our community. I’m glad that we’re moving forward with the necessary housebuilding that is so vital as long as we ensure the system is safe and coupled with the proper infrastructure that our towns so desperately need.  

Alongside Mid Cheshire MP Andrew Cooper, I met with the Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook. Specifically, this was to discuss the issues that both of our constituents have faced with a local housing developer having gone into administration. This has left people with huge financial liabilities, when they simply wanted to start a life in their dream home.  In addition to my mention of the Spen View and Astbury Park in Congleton and Scholars Place housing developments in a debate recently, I then had a private meeting with Alex Norris, the Under-Secretary of State for Democracy and Local Growth, on the matter. 

At the beginning of March, I attended a strategy session at 10 Downing Street. The purpose of this meeting was to ensure we have a comprehensive plan for implementing the manifesto promises that we were elected on, promises that I know are important to you across the Congleton constituency. Ensuring we fulfil our promises to you is really important to me, so knowing exactly how we are doing that was a priority. 

In addition to ministerial meetings, I am on the Justice Select Committee and attend a variety of all-party parliamentary groups and drop ins. I also love going to constituency events and holding surgeries. More on these topics soon. I hope you are having a good week.  

Best wishes.  

Sarah Russell MP.