As I shall be away on Health Committee business when I normally write this column this one will not be topical but I am writing about :

"The dilemmas and delights of being an Independent MP"

Being a single Independent MP among 658 other MPs does present some dilemmas although they are by no means insuperable. The first one concerns the best use of time. As one can only be in one place at a time, I have to make careful choices between attending debates, question times, committee meetings, All Party Group meetings and meetings with constituents. Other MPs can share duties with their colleagues. My order of priorities usually puts Health Committee meetings first in London and meetings with constituents at my surgeries first at home.

Another dilemma is that if I am going to vote sensibly I have to know the pros and cons of issues at the time of each and every parliamentary division. I cannot just follow the direction of a party whip without being certain that it is acceptable to my conscience and constituents. As one cannot please all constituents all the time my conscience becomes my strongest lead. A disadvantage of the new hours of working of the House of Commons, when divisions usually occur at 7 pm rather than 10 pm, is that other duties frequently keep one out of the debating chamber during the wind ups of debates. When divisions were at 10 pm, less was going on in the half hour before the division and there was more chance of listening to the concluding parts of the debate.

The real delight when one solves this dilemma is to have absolute freedom to vote either way on every issue. For example, yesterday during Opposition Day debates, I voted with the Opposition on the Government’s record on pensions, but shortly afterwards voted with the Government on their measures to help police forces throughout the country. In the lobbies, it is so useful to be able to talk to other MPs who may be in Government or Opposition parties.

Another major satisfaction amounting to a delight is the ability to write to anybody and to request to see anybody with the knowledge that they will have to respond. This does give me the chance of solving some of the problems that are presented to me. Of course a dilemma remains as there are people whose problems have been going for many years, and are insoluble. My dilemma is how to appear sympathetic and yet to avoid spending time on an issue that I cannot influence.

Another delight for myself and my family is the welcome we get at so many local functions which we usually enjoy so much that we are only too pleased to have been invited.