Monthly Archives: July 2009

An organisation I’ve never previously heard of, 38 Degrees (it’s apparently the angle at which standing snow turns into an avalanche – and I’m frankly still none the wiser), has decided to launch a postcard / e-mail campaign aimed at revealing what MPs are getting up to during their “summer holidays”, a.k.a. recess, which starts today.

What a wizard wheeze! It’s already got 38 Degrees some much-needed publicity, covered in the Telegraph, Independent, Mail and Mirror, among other dailies.  Its “executive director”, one David Babbs, who has transferred to the organisation after fulfilling the no doubt immensely useful and important role of Head of Capacity Building with Friends of the Earth, has even written a piece for the Guardian explaining earnestly why 38 Degrees is carrying out the exercise (all very worthy stuff and nothing, of course, to do with getting the pressure group onto the radar screen of British politics).

I am therefore bracing myself for an avalanche, or maybe a trickle, of postcards and e-mails demanding what I am up to during my eleven weeks in the Bahamas (or perhaps Bognor – I must keep you guessing).  So, to save time and make sure that I don’t have to break into all that partying, I thought I’d write this post, to which all enquirers will be referred.

So here is the full lowdown on the Jones recess (probably fairly similar to many other MPs’ recesses, certainly those of Conservative colleagues):

1. To begin with, the recess is indeed considerably too long;  the longest in living memory, in fact.  It wasn’t what I or the opposition wanted; indeed, we voted against it.  However, the Government prefers Parliament to be as deserted as possible, to ensure that, so far as may be, its meltdown is a private affair, away from the glare of Parliamentary scrutiny.
2. Nevertheless, we do need a holiday because most of us are very tired.  We don’t need eleven weeks, but we do need a break.  Parliamentary life is incredibly intense and taxing and we need some time off.  I know Mr Babbs’s ascetic eyebrows will probably be elevating skywards at this point, but, frankly, I don’t care.  So I’m taking a few days off at home next week and maybe a week away later in the recess.  And that, leisurewise, will be it.
3. Apart from the holiday bit, recess isn’t a holiday.  I will be in the constituency office most days to deal with correspondence, answer the phone and see constituents, whose problems don’t go away because Parliament is in recess.  I may, however, take the odd day off to be with my long-suffering wife and family. I may also work somewhat shorter hours than the  15 or so per day I often put in during term time.  Because, no doubt to Mr Babbs’s intense displeasure, I feel I am entitled to an approximation of a family life.  Sorry about that. 
4. I will also be getting out and about.  There is a host of agricultural shows, village fêtes, public meetings and other community events that take place during recess.  Indeed, I’ll be making a start with the Royal Welsh Show tomorrow.  I’ll also be visiting hospitals, schools, colleges and workplaces.  All this activity puts me in touch with real people and their concerns, which I think is a really good thing.  I would hope that even Mr Babbs would agree with that, but perhaps not.
5. I will be continuing my politicking.   The party conferences take place over the recess, so there will be a lot of activity even though Parliament will not be sitting.  I am particularly looking forward to our own conference, to be held for the first time in Manchester.
6. And finally (or perhaps not, because a lot of other stuff happens during recess), I will be writing my blog.

So that, pretty much, will be the Jones recess.  If you’re a Clwyd West resident, I look forward to seeing you.  Come up and have a chat.  But please don’t take photos, as 38 Degrees are apparently urging, without asking first.  Because that’s not really a nice thing to do and I’m a bit surprised that they seem to think it’s OK.

Oh, and if you happen to sight Mr Babbs over the summer, please write in and let me know what he’s getting up to.  All reports will be published.  

I’m sure he won’t mind at all.