The historic building is daunting at first and easy to get lost in.
While you can get awe-struck by speaking in the chamber once dominated by Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and plenty of other great Britons, the massive sense of responsibility is quickly sobering.
It’s an enormous honour to represent what is unarguably the greatest place in Britain, from the thriving Bromley town centre to the peaceful Hayes and the unique village of Biggin Hill.
While British politics continues to be tumultuous, I’ve put my head down and focused on representing our community to the best of my ability.
Over the past few months, I’ve spoken to countless groups, churches, schools, and charities that make Bromley great.
I’ve held regular surgeries, where I meet residents to help with nearly every imaginable issue.
And I’ve visited employers across the constituency, from the smallest independent shops and cafes in Hayes to Bromley’s biggest businesses, such as Bombardier and Formula 1, based in Biggin Hill.
Everywhere I go locally, it serves as a reminder of how special Bromley is—a wonderful mix of Kent and London, filled with opportunity, and free from some of the issues plaguing parts of the capital.
Our potential is partly why my election pledge was to keep Bromley and Biggin Hill safe, green and thriving: we are already one of the safest and greenest boroughs, and attracting investment from far and wide.
Together with constituents, councillors, and campaigners, I’ve stood up for Northpoint residents left with unaffordable bills for unsafe cladding; backed calls for a quieter flightpath into Biggin Hill; fought against the Government bureaucracy blocking Bromley Council’s plan for a new special school; and said no to Labour’s planning reforms.
With my Conservative colleagues, I’ve voted against Labour’s cruel winter fuel payment, called for a national inquiry into grooming gangs, opposed every tax rise, and stood up for farmers, pensioners, and taxpayers.
We’ve won some big battles, securing the inquiry and restoring support for the poorest pensioners.
But there’s far more to do.
It may seem like a surprising thing to say, but I do not want to see the Labour government fail spectacularly.
While I disagree with them, I do not want to see our economy slow, services decline, and problems mount.
No one does, because when governments fail, we all pay the price.
So it brings me no joy that Labour’s first year has been nothing short of a disaster.
While we might be making progress locally, the Labour government is repeatedly getting the big calls wrong.
Whether it’s hiking taxes, infighting over much-needed benefit reform, or unpicking successful school reforms, they are taking Britain down the wrong track and fast.
So, as I look to my second year in Parliament, I am still convinced Bromley bristles with opportunity.
It’s the job of the Government to get out of the way of, not snuff out.
And with the Chancellor looking to raise taxes even higher in the autumn, my message will be clear: Bromley’s businesses, schools, farmers, workers, young people and pensioners cannot afford another Labour tax raid.
