MPs

MPs’ round-up Despite the tragedy, our sacrifices must not be forgotten

August is normally a quieter time in the political calendar –a time when MPs are spending time in their constituencies and journalists scrape around for gossip stories for want of more substantial news items to cover. This summer, however, has been anything but quiet, with ongoing coronavirus considerations and the troubling events unfolding in Afghanistan. The situation in Afghanistan these past few weeks has been tragic, and it is clear there has been a terrible miscalculation in the withdrawal of allied forces. While many thousands of people have been safely evacuated on UK flights, my thoughts and prayers continue to be with the many Afghans who remain in their country. Many of us were moved by shocking scenes we have seen coming out of Kabul in recent weeks, which demonstrated the depth of desperation and fear felt by so many Afghans as the Taliban took control. We must collectively do everything possible to pressure the Taliban – by whatever means – to respect the rights of all Afghan citizens. We have chosen to leave, and I believe this will prove to be a colossal mistake. It makes the West look unreliable in the eyes of our allies, and lacking resolve in the eyes of our enemies. But now, we must work together to prevent a humanitarian and refugee crisis – and the significant danger of presenting the Taliban with the space and means to consolidate antiWestern sentiment and escalate the threat to ourselves and our international partners. I know this is an incredibly hard time for our servicemen and women who have sacrificed so much over the past 20 years, including many based at RNAS Yeovilton and other nearby bases. Despite the scenes we are seeing in our newspapers and on our television screens, I firmly believe that the sacrifices of our veterans have not been in vain. For the last 20 years our troops have kept Al Qaeda off our streets, drastically reducing the terrorist threat to the UK. But those 20 years were also spent building infrastructure for one of the poorest countries in the world and educating women and girls, with over 3.6 million girls in school this year alone who would otherwise never have an education.For this, of course, we must always remember the 457 brave British service personnel who laid down their lives in Afghanistan – their sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Somerton & Frome MP David Warburton

NATO’s failure will have repercussions

Well! Let’s start with the fantastic Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show. For those who were able to attend, wasn’t it great to be back seeing old friends at an event? Huge thanks must go to show president Matthew Price and secretary James Cox for having the courage to decide to host the show when there were still clouds on the covid regulation horizon. It was, as many have commented, great to be back. It was also a great showcase, as always, for all things North Dorset and the surrounding area. The show serves to remind us, if reminder is necessary, that we live (and are fortunate to do so) in a farming area of great beauty. As I write, and certainly as you read, schoolchildren across North Dorset will be preparing to return to school or start a new one. My middle daughter begins her high school career at Gillingham and is excited about doing so. Parents of school starters will be caught by surprise by the tear in their own eyes as their little one trots through the school gate. I really do hope that all our school and college staff have had some time over the summer to recharge their batteries after the testing times of last year. Let us all pray that they can now deliver an uninterrupted year of learning and social development. n It was former US Secretary of State Dean Acheson who said in 1962: ‘Great Britain has lost an empire but not yet found a role’. That was of course a few years after the Suez Crisis but when its implications were still being felt. The situation left in Afghanistan is horrendous and beyond shameful and the echoes of impotence that Suez and Kabul have thrown up are scary mirror images of each other. America appears to have reached a cross-party compact of inward-looking isolationism. America cannot be the policeman of the world but if she still wishes to be seen as THE global democratic superpower then she needs to realise that that with rights come responsibilities. Acheson’s comments quoted above it seems to be is now relevant to NATO. If, and at the moment it seems to me to be a big if, NATO is to have a relevance and power rather than just an existence, logo and HQ then it needs to recalibrate itself such that it can act both jointly with, and independently of, America. However, to do this, European member states of NATO need to wake up and step up. They need to meet the 2% defence spending which only the UK, France and the States do. I’m told our Government tried to get the French and Germans, among others, to build a coalition to keep the evacuations going after the American withdrawal. Germany and France both have elections. Neither were keen to create to do anything that might rock their electoral boats. So shame was added to shame as the bete noire of ‘domestic politics’ got in the way of doing the right thing. I fear we in the West have no comprehension of what has been unleashed.

MP for North Dorset Simon Hoare

MPs’ round-up I went on the beat to find out what police face

One of the great things about recess, is that I can do much more at home in the constituency. And no more so than this last week, where I have been specifically looking at crime and what police are doing. On Tuesday night I was out with Dorset Police, meeting our police officers on the beat and seeing for myself what the beat is like. My top priority when it comes to crime and policing is County Lines drug dealing. The British Transport Police are the railway’s police and I have felt for some time they have not done enough to stop county lines on the Salisbury to Exeter nor the Dorchester line and so I summoned them to Weymouth and Dorchester last week to make sure they start to take proper action, which we saw. It was great MP for West Dorset Chris Loder

and we need to see more. Police forces have recently received millions of pounds to tackle domestic abuse, which I fully support and spoke of this in parliament. However, I believe a similar level of resources must be afforded for crackdowns on county lines drugs rings here in Dorset. The police are clear on what I think and I will be working hard to ensure the police get the support they require to deal with this problem as we started to see in Dorchester last week. If you have any insights into drug activity, please do get in touch confidentially. n On Friday (3rd September) at 7pm, there will be a concert in Sherborne’s Cheap Street Church, by the Gentlemen of St John’s, the choral scholars of St John’s College, Cambridge. This concert will showcase the finest choral music and will raise money for Save the Children, who are also organising the tickets. n Since my last column, so much has happened in Afghanistan and many of you have written to me. I think we have seen there either a catastrophic breakdown in American intelligence, or the President of the US has consciously made the decision, knowing the consequences. It raises some fundamental questions about our relationship with the US I think. I went back to Parliament for the recall and was in the debate. It was important and moving and I’m sure it will continue when we return on Monday. n Finally, congratulations to the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show organisers, particularly secretary James Cox. It was a great show. I’m sorry I had to return to Parliament on the first day, but made up for it on day two.

It’s so good to bring the team together

Having a Liberal Democrat presence at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show was rewarding. The show itself was terrific. It was big, varied, wellmanaged and well-attended. Our stand meant we could bring our team together for the first time this year without electronic assistance. The best part, though, was the opportunity to meet so many people and to listen to their views and to understand their concerns. I came away with three abiding memories. First, a conversation with two young people who clearly knew a great deal about climate change and the issues and actions the world must face up to. They were so patient with me. Their skill at cornering, then skewering a clearly culpable baby boomer (i.e. me) was quite something. Then, there was the rather scornful country gent who asked me why we had bothered to come. I am pleased to say he stayed for half-an-hour, took part in our survey on animal welfare in the context of the deal with Australia and thanked us for giving him a positive and credible perspective on the Lib Dems. Lastly, there was the privilege of listening to the team running Future Roots Farm. The farm gives opportunities for vocational training in agriculture to young people in need of direction. The sausage factory created by education policy today means teachers do not always have the time to convey all the options and opportunities nor to address the employability skills, self-knowledge and confidence that are so much a part of the world of work. I was so impressed by the ethos and commitment of Future Roots. They deserve the support of all of us. Lots of people took part in our survey on animal welfare standards, sparking conversations that show just how much we all care about this issue. More than 90% expressed concern about the difference in standards between the UK and Australia. Many also voiced worries about the impact on our comparatively small-scale beef farming in Dorset of future deals with the likes of Brazil and Argentina to say nothing of the USA. It would be great to think that these matters could be concluded in a more open, honest and inclusive manner than they have to date but trust is in ever shorter supply. When we discussed possible solutions, a common theme emerged: eat less meat, don’t eat processed meat, buy local and press the big retailers to do the same. We also brought other stories to the show. Recently, we raised the money and the volunteers for the free Community Fridge in Sturminster Newton to reduce food waste; we have sourced, distributed and planted hundreds of native trees; we have backed our Dorset county councillors in the effort to see real action on climate change, support for carers and strengthening our communities, including their myriad small businesses. I felt something at the show, maybe not a wind but certainly a breeze of change. I know I witnessed the desire of many for a clearer, fairer way ahead.

Mike Chapman, chairman of North Dorset Liberal Democrats