On Friday, I met
Dr Andrew Murrison MP in his constituency office in Trowbridge, to fill him in on potential flaws in some "footfall" statistics on threatened train services such as
the "TransWilts" and the
Bristol to Waterloo which provides the only direct trains to London from 3 of the towns in his constituency.
I'm a bit of a political cynic, but I have to admit to being impressed. Dr Murrison is more a medical than a transport man. He was well informed, yet knew the limits of his knowledge. A sharp mind, able to come back with good and pertinent questions (including difficult ones) too.
It's also good to see how quiet and without fanfare the whole MP's operation is - at least in this particular case. A discreet office, a pleasant reception staff, an offer of a coffee, and the chance to put some very niche / specialist points in an unhurried way. Perhaps that's just the way it is in the South West of England and things would be much more frenetic in London.
(written 2006-02-12, updated 2006-06-05)
Associated topics are indexed under
Z300 - Politics and Religion [4079] Melksham Area - Unitary Council results, May 2013 - (2013-05-04)
[3921] On rememberance, on war, and on preventing the war cycle - (2012-11-11)
[3905] How should we choose our Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner? - (2012-10-27)
[3845] Good cause giving - getting the charity beggars off the street - (2012-08-21)
[3806] 2011 Census results - initial figures for Wiltshire. - (2012-07-17)
[3676] Rising prices, changing habits and society - (2012-03-31)
[3592] Are we one man, one vote? No, and we never have been. - (2012-01-26)
[3438] Melksham to become a part of Trowbridge? - (2011-09-13)
[3325] The Olympic Torch, and Melksham House - (2011-06-14)
[3323] Is Melksham town centre dying? - (2011-06-11)
[3313] What does our MP do on a Bank Holiday? - (2011-05-30)
[3264] Alternative Vote (AV) - explaining and an example - (2011-04-25)
[3051] Positively reforming the system - could it be done? - (2010-11-14)
[2971] Should the public sector compete with businesses? and other deep questions - (2010-09-26)
[2948] Melksham shamefully makes the national headlines - (2010-09-07)
[2870] Old prices - what would the equivalent price have been in 1966? - (2010-07-14)
[2864] Changing with weather and seasons - (2010-07-10)
[2856] Two sides of the coin - (2010-07-06)
[2824] A pint of Black Rat, and a lazy barman - (2010-06-25)
[2792] Should Government compete with private industry? - (2010-06-03)
[2757] Bodicea, Lincoln, and our new MP - (2010-05-09)
[2752] Voting day - UK General Election - (2010-05-06)
[2740] Melksham Hustings at George Ward School - (2010-04-26)
[2712] A more informed decision than ever before - (2010-04-08)
[2689] Can my dog eat potatoes? Doggie Dietary Research, and political sleaze! - (2010-03-23)
[2640] How is your tax pound spent? - (2010-02-18)
[2353] All change - Wiltshire Parliamentary - (2009-08-13)
[2288] Wiltshire Community Area Partnerships - (2009-07-15)
[2279] Understanding the new local government structure in Wiltshire - (2009-07-11)
[2270] Wiltshire - a chance to improve life for everybody - (2009-07-05)
[2257] Ramblings on church and state linkage in Melksham - (2009-06-25)
[2206] Spot the odd one out - (2009-05-29)
[2178] Melksham Candidates for Wiltshire Unitary Election - (2009-05-12)
[2075] Supporting Parkinsons and Trains - (2009-03-11)
[2028] Things people say on the phone - (2009-02-06)
[2012] The Wiltshire Police - (2009-01-29)
[1987] One Cheer for Local Democracy - Asda in Melksham - (2009-01-11)
[1882] Wiltshire Council says - part 2 - (2008-11-14)
[1881] Wiltshire Council says - part 1 - (2008-11-13)
[1872] Barack Obama wins US Predidency - (2008-11-05)
[1769] July child ponders on August children - (2008-08-23)
[1729] Back from the future - (2008-07-30)
[1579] Rome, and the faith of Rome - (2008-03-17)
[1573] Budget tax increases hit vehicle market - (2008-03-14)
[1526] Carers at work - court case changes - (2008-02-01)
[1428] Travel Across Wiltshire - the game - (2007-11-11)
[1386] New software product for warmblooded programmers - (2007-10-10)
[1350] FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) Western Region - (2007-09-13)
[1260] An inspirational business talk from one of our prospective MPs - (2007-07-06)
[1247] An afternoon at a public enquiry - (2007-06-27)
[1175] Local elections - choosing who to vote for - (2007-05-03)
[1135] Government pressure on me to shut up after I make the papers - (2007-04-05)
[1109] False imprisonment - a contrast from the news - (2007-03-15)
[1060] What a relief from the tax office. - (2007-02-01)
[1003] Room at the Inn, Guy at the station - (2006-12-21)
[967] Realistic on line shoot'em up - (2006-12-05)
[875] Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones - (2006-09-22)
[780] Separation and Integration - (2006-06-27)
[750] Almost everyone loses - (2006-06-07)
[696] Is than an uphill or downhill task? - (2006-04-23)
[682] Iran has enriched uranium ... - (2006-04-12)
[674] Wiltshire to get an extra MP - (2006-04-07)
[671] Both ends of the animal - (2006-04-05)
[607] On being British - (2006-02-14)
[539] rich and famous - (2005-12-23)
[505] Would you steal ... petrol? ... a training course? - (2005-11-26)
[469] Yesterday was Kiss and Ride - (2005-10-19)
[415] Campaign Drift and efficiency. - (2005-08-15)
[384] Managing conflict and disappointment - (2005-07-20)
[377] A Strengthened City - (2005-07-14)
[335] Sad priorities - (2005-06-03)
[326] UK Tax payment totals and where the money is spent - (2005-05-27)
[313] Making bona fide international marriages more difficult - (2005-05-16)
[301] General Election day, UK - (2005-05-05)
[289] MP for Devizes, Wiltshire - (2005-04-23)
[280] Spotted - the local MP - (2005-04-15)
[257] Politics gets nasty. Must be an election coming up. - (2005-03-25)
[216] Cheap purchase - votes paid for with selfish promises - (2005-02-15)
23a0
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