Columns

VIEW from Westminster

17 April 2009

Happy Easter to all Southwark News readers. I hope everybody who wants to has had some chance for a rest.

As your paper has already reported, two more former councillors have died recently - Alex Coveney and Anne Matthews. I remember them both well and pay tribute to both of them for the public service they gave. Last week news reached me of the death too of John O'Grady.

John led Southwark Council for a record time and although at one time a political opponent, he was personally a warm and widely respected individual. I pay tribute to all three - and also to the chairman of the Dickens Square mosque and Tony Morgan, one of the best known Southwark market traders who have also died recently.

Last Saturday I was out and about talking to people again about local post office services, after the eight local closures forced by the government last year. There is no doubt that our remaining post offices are struggling to take the strain. If one of my team or I have not spoken to you about post offices (or the royal mail) recently, please drop me a note with your views - to the House of Commons, SW1AOAA  or by email to simon@simonhughes.org.uk.

More happily, last Monday I was privileged to take over as chair of the London Bubble Theatre, based in Rotherhithe, and much look forward to working more closely with them in their excellent work in our borough and neighbouring boroughs in the days ahead. But the best local community news of this holiday fortnight has without doubt been the great Millwall win on Monday night (after a less than great away loss at Yeovil on Good Friday!). It is fantastic that we are still in with a real chance of automatic promotion to the Championship - a much safer bet than the playoffs!

As there has been much comment, I hope you will excuse me if I write a word about MPs' expenses.
I have always believed constituents have a right to know exactly how much public money is given to me, and for what.

The behaviour of some MPs has put many other honest and hard working people in question. Like all other inner London MPs, I cannot and do not claim for a second home; I do not think any London MP should do and the rules for others should have been sorted long ago.For any further information on this or any other aspect of my work please look on my website - www.simonhughes.org.uk.

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