Many people are under the impression that politicians from different political parties never work together.
It is true that some politicians find working together across party lines very difficult. The media have reported recently about one Labour MP who has said she could never be friends with a Conservative- I believe this rather sad approach alienates half of the population and displeases most of the other half.
I personally have friends in the Labour Party in parliament, and in a previous role between 2010-2012 as Chairman of the All Party Group of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee I worked well with MPs from across the political spectrum. I continue to do so now as Deputy Leader of the House of Commons.
I believe that doing what is right for my constituents is the most important thing.
Indeed, at the recent Diwali Lights Festival in Northampton, Labour MP Keith Vaz (Leicester East) joined me in celebrating the splendid annual occasion with the Northampton Hindu community. Everyone was very pleased to welcome Keith to Northampton.
I would like to thank Keith, and all cross-party MPs I have worked with, for their willingness to work together to focus on serving the people of this country.