Parliamentary colleague David Amess had been brutally stabbed to death whilst holding a constituency surgery. As was the case with Jo Cox a few years before, this had a chilling impact on all of us, but especially on the families and staff of MPs who understand that politics has its combative elements but who do not for a minute think that life could ever be endangered. I have taken a long term interest in violence and intimidation in public life and its impact on democracy. We all know of good people who would be an asset to our elected institutions but who are increasingly less inclined to step forward. So in defending “free speech” we must balance that against the risk such intimidation creates. 
 
We are in the process of introducing the Online Harms Bill, as much of the responsibility for ensuring civilised debate lies with the social media companies who hitherto haven't exactly been that bothered about the effects - be they addictions, anxieties or worse - that their platforms can facilitate.
 

During Covid we moved to a more “zoom-based” form of surgery. These have worked well and saved residents the need to travel to Whitland so we will persist for the time being. All other public engagements remain largely as per normal.

Talking of Covid it seems that here in the West we now are experiencing our highest rates so far in the pandemic, proving that no-one in authority is really able to claim they have it cracked. The fact that Welsh Government has imposed longer lockdowns and more stringent “plan b” style restrictions and yet ended up with worse rates than England is not (before anybody reaches for the reply button) incompetence on their part. It is confirmation that Covid is not easily tameable and that when all is said and done, vaccinations are the best way of curtailing its advance and its effect. 

On a more cheery note - last weeks’ budget, delivered with the usual polish and panache that are the hallmarks of Rishi Sunak’s treasury, had much to be upbeat about.