Diary of an MP - A cohesive, connected Northampton
At a time when the country is grappling with rising extremism and social division, the people and organisations I meet across our town continue to remind me what a strong and welcoming place Northampton is.
One of the most rewarding parts of my role is working with young people. Over the past fortnight I joined pupils at Delapre Primary School for an assembly and tour of the school, and also welcomed students from Collingtree CE Primary School to Parliament for a tour of my workplace and a lively question and answer session. Seeing the curiosity and enthusiasm of Northampton’s young people is always inspiring, and engaging the next generation in civic life has never been more important.
I was also delighted to welcome trainees from two Northampton-based businesses to Parliament for tours of the estate, construction and building services firm Briggs & Forrester and low-carbon energy generator Infinis. Apprenticeships and skills training are vital to our local economy, and it was fantastic to see Northampton businesses investing in the next generation of talent.
Keeping our communities safe and resilient is another key priority. I recently spent time with the Environment Agency reviewing flood defences and discussing proposals to strengthen protection for Billing Aquadrome. As we face the growing challenges of extreme weather and climate change, the work that goes on behind the scenes to protect homes, businesses and local infrastructure has never been more important.
Strong communities are also built through collaboration between our local institutions. Over the past fortnight I have held constructive meetings with local leaders including Cllr Mark Arnull at West Northamptonshire Council, Cllr Les Marriott at Northampton Town Council and Cllr Perry Gibson at Hardingstone Parish Council. Working together across different levels of local leadership helps ensure Northampton continues to move forward.
Community spirit was also on full display this weekend when I joined Northampton Town Football Club Community Trust for their annual community day at Sixfields. While the result on the pitch wasn’t what the Cobblers were hoping for, the event itself was another great example of local organisations bringing people together and supporting people across our town.
Finally, my business success of the fortnight award goes to Silverstone Museum, which has launched an exciting new national STEM programme designed to bring engineering and automotive education to young people across the UK. With Silverstone on our doorstep, Northamptonshire continues to play a leading role in inspiring the next generation of engineers and innovators.
It is encouraging to see the Government launching a new National Social Cohesion Strategy to strengthen community ties and tackle isolation. Here in Northampton that sense of cohesion is already alive and well. From schools and businesses to community organisations and local councils, our town’s strength has always come from people working together.