I normally write this column in, or on my way to, Dorset after a week spent in Parliament

I don’t often write in this column about specific pieces of legislation going through Parliament – because this is not a political column, and legislation in Parliament obviously has a significant tendency to become highly politicised.

MPs get a lot of letters and emails from their constituents these days. 

Last week, the House of Commons voted to remove itself and the House of Lords entirely from the Palace of Westminster in 2025 so that the whole, antiquated and dangerous system of wires and pipes of every kind that have gradually accumulated since Barry and Pugin constructed this great edifice ca

I have never known why the 1st of April took on the unenviable role of being April Fool's Day. Indeed, come to think of it, I don't remotely understand why there is such a thing as April Fool's Day in the first place. 

Last week, I had the delightful task of opening a very nice new building in Bridport, which contains flats designed to suit elderly people who want to maintain complete independence and to continue owning their own home, but also want the peace of mind that comes from having a manager on site and

As we emerge from the pleasant cocoon of Christmas and the New Year back into the world of action, we hear various voices telling us that we face tough choices ahead.

Brexit -- about the substance of which I have never written, and have no intention of ever writing anything in this column -- has already had many effects on various aspects of our national life; but the main effect for Parliamentarians has been the innumerable hours during which we have debated

The advent of social media is of course one of the defining characteristics of our times. It has removed much of the formality and laboriousness that used to be associated with point to multi-point communication.

The past week was Budget week.

In the House of Commons, as in the country as a whole, the Budget counts as a significant event.