Poignant moments such as Remembrance Sunday services allow us to detach ourselves momentarily from everyday life, together with those with which we may otherwise disagree, in the unified act of remembering those who gave the most invaluable gift of all: their life, in the hope their fellow citizens and future generations could lead a more free and peaceful life.

Remembrance is more vital now than at any time in history. The last First World War veterans died about ten years ago and many of the remaining veterans of the Second World War have now left us – Captain Tom, Harry Billinge, Prince Phillip and now Queen Elizabeth being recent examples. But we are still incredibly lucky to have many Second World War veterans to learn from – I have certainly learnt a great amount from veterans I’ve had the pleasure of meeting recently as your MP.
This year especially with the war in Ukraine, I will be thinking of the many troops deployed in places like Estonia over this period, some of whom I met recently. Many of these brave men and women will be remembering their own friends lost in previous recent conflicts.

The Royal British Legion does a very important job raising money to help those who gave so much for our country and also educating us about the sacrifices made. It was great to see so many of my colleagues in Parliament recognise that, especially with the Prime Minister joining volunteers selling poppies for the Royal British Legion in Westminster tube station in the rush hour only a few days ago.
Last week, the national conversation has been centred on the problems unfolding at the Marston Immigration Centre in Kent. The message I am getting from my constituents, and the message I am carrying forth to Westminster, is of urgency to get this under control.

The Home Secretary has come under pressure in recent weeks – one such critic being the Prime Minister of Albania, who seems to have far more concern over what the British Home Secretary has to say rather than problems affecting his own country. Mainly, why so many people are fleeing the country under his leadership to enter the UK illegally, that Albanians constitute one of the highest proportions of asylum seekers entering the UK to date. To fully get to grips with this, we need co-operation, pragmatism and support from all European states concerned, which, right now, is hard to come by.