I thought it might be of interest to readers to have an insight into my diary and to see what happens in an average day as MP for Northampton North and a Government Minister.
I have chosen an average weekday from last month when I was still the Arts, Heritage and Tourism Minister to give readers a well-rounded view of the work that I do.
The day I have chosen below is pretty representative- most days are equally busy!
5.30am = Awake, check media summaries and social media.
8.00am – 9.00am = personally responded to several emails from Northampton constituents giving my view on certain policies and writing to other organisations on their behalf.
9.15am – 9.35am = gave a speech at a breakfast roundtable in Parliament for the Historic Houses Association to discuss the protection of heritage buildings around the country.
10.30am – 11.30am = visited King’s Cross Railway Station, a Grade One Listed Building, to sign a Heritage Partnership Agreement between the Government and Historic England. This agreement will ensure that essential work takes place to protect the unique architecture of this railway station, which dates from 1851 and still has many original features, including its famous Clock Tower, which I climbed.
12.15pm – 12.45pm = held a meeting in my Ministerial office in Whitehall with a group of Labour MPs to discuss the possibility of a Town of Culture competition.
1.00pm – 1.20pm = had a one-on-one meeting with an individual MP to hear the representations they wished to make to me about protecting an important piece of heritage in their constituency.
1.30pm – 3.00pm = went to my Parliamentary office at the House of Commons to work with my Northampton staff to personally go through all of the emails and letters received from my constituents and to see how best I can help. This included helping my constituents with cases that have affected them such as writing to CEOs of organisations to pass on my constituents’ concerns on certain policies to helping residents with more local issues such as litter.
3.30pm – 4.15pm = attended a briefing at No 10 Downing Street for Government ministers on the current Brexit situation.
4.30pm – 5.15pm = returned to my Parliamentary office to finish any remaining work including looking into a particularly sensitive case for one of my constituents.
5.45pm – 7.00pm = attended an event celebrating 50 years of the national tourist organisation Visit Britain, at the world famous Chelsea Flower Show, where they had a garden.
7.30pm – 10.00pm = a working dinner with fellow MPs discussing a range of issues including the current Brexit situation.
10.30pm - 12 midnight = Ministerial Paperwork (the “red box”) at my London flat, signing letters, deciding on submissions from the civil service etc.