Page 27 - Clarion February 2018

Letter from Westminster Philip Dunne MP

Return to the backbenches would like to thank for their stalwart support in
As many readers will have seen, last month I both the Department of Health and Ministry of
left my position as Minister of State for Health, Defence.
as part of the Prime Minister’s reshuffle. I have now returned to the backbenches,
It was a tremendous honour to serve in somewhat surprised by the sense of liberation I
Government since 2010 – first as a Government feel personally, but also with optimism for the
Whip until 2012, followed by Minister for future. My main purpose since first elected in
Defence Procurement until 2016, and then as 2005 has been to serve the people of South
Minister of State for Health for the past 18 Shropshire, and my determination to do so is
months. unchanged.
I have been heartened to receive so many kind I now have greater control of my own diary,
words from constituents about my time in and therefore more time, as well as the ability to
office. Serving as a Minister is a remarkable speak on any topic on the floor of the House of
experience for any MP. It provides an Commons - which Government Whips cannot
opportunity to effect real change on a national do at all, and Ministers only on their area of
scale, while sharing responsibility for the responsibility. This should allow me to be more
government’s work and helping deliver reform visible in fighting our corner more directly.
to improve people’s lives. It requires Indeed, at my first opportunity from the
commitment and energy, and at times can be backbenches on the day after I left the
frustrating when the system proves slow to turn Government, I was able to use my new found
– but when you succeed in making changes you freedom in the House to raise the importance of
know it can make a real difference. our community hospitals in South Shropshire.
For me, personal highlights include being able I shall continue to support the Government’s
to undertake work to enable the launch of our work to deliver Brexit alongside sound
new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth - economic policies and important reforms that
whose commissioning ceremony I attended just benefit us here in South Shropshire. The wider
before Christmas – and putting in place more reshuffle has injected fresh talent into the
routes into nursing, so more people can achieve Government and Conservative Party. I look
their dream of becoming an NHS nurse. forward to seeing how they continue the vital

I am proud of the role I was able to play in work of improving the quality of life for all of
working for both David Cameron and Theresa us.
May as Prime Ministers, and their Secretaries of As ever, I am always be happy to take up
State, in seeking to make Britain a fairer country cases on behalf of constituents. So please do feel
with opportunity for all. I had the good fortune fr ee to email me at
to work with some talented Ministers, philip.dunne.mp@parliament.uk to raise any
outstanding civil servants and dedicated NHS issues or concerns.
staff and Armed Forces personnel, whom I Philip Dunne

The Cleobury Clarion is on the Worldwide Web.

From the 4th day of the month, every month,

including all the advertisements.
We have readers in California, Hong Kong and New

Zealand.

Cleobury Clarion - Page !27 - February 2018