With MPs returning to the House of Commons this week, there is a very different atmosphere from that of the past two years.
Many new faces on the green benches are bringing extra energy, experience and enthusiasm. As well as moving beyond Brexit, I am looking forward to a plethora of maiden speeches.
I’ve learnt how easy it is to become distracted in Westminster. The inbox rapidly becomes stuffed full of invitations, meeting requests and inquiries, questions need to be tabled, and urgent debates one actually wants to attend. An MP’s diary quickly becomes very packed. It can be challenging to keep focus on the big picture.
In the election much mention was made of One Nation Conservatism. Last year a caucus of One Nation MPs worked together to agree a Declaration of Values that bind us together as a force of the centre right. It was an uplifting exercise.
One Nation Conservatism is about reaching out to all parts of our country and holding together our United Kingdom, this is vital. But it is also about a broader set of political priorities.
The One Nation Values include a commitment to public services, well-funded through a growing economy, to active global leadership through our aid, trade and security commitments, to social responsibility and to life chances believing that everyone in our country has an equal right to a fair chance in life.
The ten values include a specific commitment on environmental stewardship. The UK is uniquely placed to lead action on this most urgent of issues as we work towards hosting the next Global Conference on Climate change in Glasgow this November.
The values also include commitments on upholding press freedoms, human rights, the rule of law and an independent judiciary.
So, as we begin what will be a busy political year I will pin a copy of the One Nation Declaration of Values by my desk. When multi-tasking through the emails and Whatsapp messages, I will lean on it to help keep the focus on the big picture too.
Vicky Ford is the Conservative MP for Chelmsford
