Monday 5th July 2010

05:50 I have decided to drive into work on Monday's and Tuesday's because of the uncertainty of the hours, so this morning I was up at the crack of dawn and was on the road before six. I thought that by leaving early I would miss the worst of the traffic. How wrong I was! It was chaos, particularly around the Blackwall Tunnel, and I didn’t arrive in Westminster until about 08:15.

08:20 Sorted out my prayer card and collected Order Paper and my copy of Hansard. Spent a couple of hours in my office sorting out correspondence. My Early Day Motion about the unfair treatement of offender educators has provoked a furious letter from The Manchester College. Good, it shows I have hit a raw nerve! Now I need to think about how best to respond.

10:30 Jess McMahon, my excellent website designer visited me today to film some footage for the website. I had obtained a filming permit for Jess so we managed to do three separate interviews; one on the Terrace, one in New Palace Yard and one in Westminster Hall.

12:00 After treating Jess and Jo-Anne (my daughter) to lunch I went back to my office to sign letters and sort our email correspondence.

14:30 In the Chamber for prayers and Defence Questions. I had an oral question down about the affect of explosions at Shoeburyness on homes in Leysdown but my question didn’t make it to the Order Paper. I will now table a written question to try to highlight the problem.

15:30 I had arranged a seat in the Public Gallery for Jess in front of the security screen dead opposite the Government benches. Her face was a picture when Nick Clegg walked into the Chamber to make an unscheduled statement about the proposed referendum on Alternative Voting, closely followed by David Cameron.

16:00 I went to a reception held by the Food and Drinks Federation, where Farming Minister, James Paice made an excellent, common sense speech. We are lucky to have somebody like James in the Government championing rural affairs.

17:30 Back to my office for the final filming session of the day with Jess interviewing me about a typical day in the life of an MP. We both have a pretty good understanding of what we are trying to achieve and we wrapped up in one take. I escorted Jess to Westminster tube station and then managed another hour of paperwork before my next meeting.

19:00 To Portcullis House where I was the only Conservative at the All Party Parliamentary Steel and Metal Group, which is hardly surprising when you consider that I am the only MP in the South East with a steel works in his constituency. The other members seemed pleased with my contribution and I sense that membership of the Group will be useful in helping protect jobs at Thamesteel.

20:00 I picked up a sandwich from the restaurant and took it back to my office where I drafted a response to the letter from The Manchester College and followed on TV the debate that was taking place in the Chamber.

22:00 The House rises without a division tonight so I get away on time and am home at 23:25.