I know long serving Conservative Party members remember fondly party conferences in Blackpool and Brighton, but I for one can confirm Brum was buzzing and brilliant!

Our new Prime Minister, Theresa May, dealt with the Brexit elephant on day one with a tremendous opening speech which gave us the patriotic and confident shot in the arm we all needed.

Our country has undoubtedly been unsettled by recent political and constitutional tremors, but she was unequivocally clear: the future will be what we make it.  We need a strong leader now more than ever and I was delighted to see Theresa take to the stage with such confidence.

Some of the speeches generated uncomfortable headlines regarding our international openness for business, brains and skills.  Having listened to them fully myself, please know our beloved journalists were behaving rather mischievously, extrapolating elements of speeches into foregone policy conclusions.

Our Prime Minister must, of course, hold her negotiating cards close to her chest, but she is in no doubt that our future includes welcoming and retaining the best skills from around the world.

If ever a constituency understood this, it is us in South Cambridgeshire – such is our contribution to the British economy and scientific endeavour, we must have a seat at the negotiating table.

I am hosting the second ‘Keep calm and carry on’ private Brexit meeting this month with key representatives from our academic, healthcare, governance, agricultural and business communities.  We are working on a plan to ensure our voices are heard.

In addition to numerous meetings and roundtables, I spoke at a number of events during the conference, predominantly on topics regarding social mobility, welfare, disability and the refugee crisis.

Our conference can be an exhausting frenzy of lobbyists, but this year I was pleased to be invited to events that brought Ministers together with some of the charities I have been working with.**

I sense Theresa’s reshuffle has brought an energetic new broom to Whitehall and we have a new team who are prepared to listen – or maybe I’m just catching them while they are still malleable!  Either way, it was encouraging.

As the conference drew to a close, I eagerly awaited the PM’s concluding remarks and I have to tell you it was music to my ears! 

Theresa spoke of the country she wants to build, one that works as a team, shares the burden and supports those not quite managing.

The good news Theresa, is we already have one – we are just waiting to be unleashed.

♦ This piece was written by Heidi specially for the October 2016 SCCA Members' In Touch newsletter.

** See our report Conference call on Parkinson's with the help of Charlie Nightingale

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Heidi Allen MP
South Cambridgeshire
153 St Neots Road
Hardwick
CB23 7QJ

Phone
01954 212 707

E-mail
heidi.allen.mp@parliament.uk

Twitter
@heidiallen75

Website
www.heidisouthcambs.co.uk

Voting record in Parliament

www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25348/heidi_allen/south_cambridgeshire

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