Labour’s assumption that the word ‘Change’ alone is enough to magic higher growth is wrong. There is no need to disrupt steady successful economic stewardship - least of all with new employment reforms to please the unions. No wonder business is worried

People in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Swindon benefit from having strong Conservative champions for their areas. Campaigning with three of the hardest working MPs in Parliament - @alexchalkchelt, Richard Graham and @robertbuckland.

David Cameron was first in Gloucester with me during the 2007 floods, and several times after: this time he came to see progress from various regeneration projects, hear about our Levelling Up wins - and support strong representation of Gloucester here & in Parliament by me

My last speech in politics earlier. After diplomacy & business I’m v lucky to have had 14 years of service inc as Chair of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy & the PM’s Trade Envoy: but most of all treasured being MP for Gloucester. Thank you all 🙏🏻 facebook.com/share/v/VVCR7D…

From the top of our house the evening sun fades over May Hill, 300m summit of the borderland of Gloucestershire. It looks to both the Cotswold Hills & Black Mountains and over a dozen counties & is the distant landmark of coming home as you drive from the south

So ends the 14th Gloucester History Festival: 50 talks by or conversations with brilliant & thought inspiring speakers on the widest aspects of history David Olusoga William Dalrymple: ending Prof Janina Ramirez with Kate Mosse Hakim Adi & magician Neville Maskeleyne. 🙏🏻 all supporters & volunteers

My warm thanks to the London heads of mission of the countries for whom I worked as 4 PMs Trade Envoy Desra Percaya, PhD 🇮🇩 High Commission of Malaysia, London Dato Zakri Jaafar 🇲🇾 & Teddy Locsin Jr. 🇵🇭 & also to ASEAN Sec Gen DR KAO KIM HOURN A joy working with you on many projects - and much more ahead

Tim Smit (Eden Project) on Nat Lottery The National Lottery 30th anniv: key to ‘electrifying the creative industries of Britain’: that with success of ‘dreaming type things’ communities believe ‘good things can happen here’. So true & exactly what local pride is all about The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Columns by Matthew Syed have always been thoughtful and well written, but this one hits at the heart of the problems we face - a big wake up call for us all in Western Europe thetimes.com/comment/column…

Now that the UK is the 12th member of CP TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership, making up 15% of world trade) we need to get moving, esp through our first FTA with Malaysia. We need both an accredited High Commissioner & an appointed Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to do so effectively

When I left Parliament I brought the national enquiry into rape gangs in Rotherham home from Parliament: re-reading it still shakes me. Matthew Syed article (below) says everything I feel. Truth must out, not as fuel for racism, but because there are still lessons to learn

Opposition isn’t just about opposing. Kemi Badenoch right to recognise the PM is juggling intnl storms deftly so far Meanwhile absolute control fixation will end in tears for Reform’s owner. Dr Li Wenliang was right that ‘there should be more than one voice in a healthy society’

On the destiny of dictators facebook.com/share/15byHPRr…

Police Crime & Sentencing Bill comes back to Parliament this week. On the clauses re Spiking delighted Joe Robertson MP holding cross party mtg today re proposed amendment to ensure recklessness as well as intent covered in the Bill Stamp Out Spiking Mims Davies MP Diana Johnson DBE MP 🇬🇧🇺🇦🌈

The decision to have a full national enquiry on grooming gangs can be ascribed to Louise Casey’s report: but it’s also a memorial to Times journalist Andrew Norfolk, who died last month. He, above all, exposed what grooming gangs were up to thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/…

We are absolutely not

E206 Punchline Talks! with Richard Graham, Julian Tooke, Samina Khan and... youtu.be/gC_vgetzYD4?si… via YouTube Richard Graham Punchline-Gloucester.com Gloucester History Festival Gloucestershire CC

Despite this footage, and the knowledge that a policewoman’s nose was broken, it has taken a year to establish guilt of this brutal attack in court. The sentence should ensure other potential thugs see the heavy consequences of such violence