Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition (Published on Wednesday 9th November 2022) below:
Remembrance
Friday will mark 104 years since the Armistice which saw the guns on the Western Front finally fall silent after 4 years of deadly conflict.
Whilst the passage of time means there are no living veterans of the battles in Flanders Fields still with us, the monuments to their comrades who never came home still stand as visible reminders of the sacrifices made. This year events to remember those who fell in the service of our country will feel particularly poignant as we mark 40 years since the Falklands Conflict and the sacrifices made in more recent years in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Remembrance is focused on remembering with gratitude those who served and sacrificed their lives for our freedoms, but it also serves as a message and warning to future generations of what can happen when peace is lost and the price paid to regain it. That message seems more powerful this year given the attack on Ukraine by Vladimir Putin, shattering the peace between nations in Europe which had held since 1945.
Some talk about the possibility “Ukraine Fatigue” might affect our determination to support their fight, mostly based on the impact of higher food and energy bills over the coming months. Whilst this will be difficult for many, the real danger is Europe and the World going back down the path trodden in the 1930s, where weakness and appeasement in response to Adolf Hitler’s aggression ultimately led to the outbreak of World War 2.
If we do not stand firm and stop Putin now, remembrance reminds us the price paid in future could be much greater.
Political Jungle
When I woke up on Wednesday morning, I checked the latest headlines and saw my friend Mark Harper, the Secretary of State for Transport, was doing the media round, a high-profile part of life in the political jungle.
Given his significant responsibilities for transport there was one hot topic the presenter was keen to ask him about: What he thought of Matt Hancock heading off into the celebrity jungle.
Unsurprisingly Mark, like me, believes MPs have better things to be doing with their time when Parliament is sitting than heading off to the other side of the world for several weeks to take part in a reality TV show. I therefore agree with the decision to suspend Matt Hancock from the Conservative Party, as happened when another MP did the same.
Whilst Matt will be missing votes in the House of Commons, I have a feeling he will be winning plenty of votes from colleagues in terms of which contestant should be undertaking a bushtucker trial.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Friday 11th November 3pm till 5pm at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD and Saturday 19th November 11am till 1pm at Preston Baptist Church, 62 Old Torquay Rd, Paignton TQ3 2RB.
For an appointment you can either email me at [email protected] or leave a message on 01803 214989, surgeries are for personal queries from residents they would like me to help them with, rather than a wider policy debate. There are also drop-in sessions at my office 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD between 10am & 1pm Monday to Friday where a member of my team will be available to help with any queries.
