Nigel Huddleston, MP for Mid Worcestershire

I WILL be moving on from my role as Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to become the Conservative Party Vice Chair for Youth.

My time at DCMS has been fantastic and I am grateful to all of the Ministers and officials that I have worked with. I am excited to start my new role and work with the party and look forward to engaging with young people across the country.

The period since my last diary began with the “meaningful vote” on the Prime Minister’s Withdrawal Agreement. I was disappointed that the Agreement was voted down.

Various colleagues of mine who walked through the No Lobby wanted: no deal, a second referendum, a Norway/Efta arrangement, a Canada-style free trade deal, an extension of Article 50 or the full revocation of Article 50. They cannot all be right and I hope that a majority of my colleagues eventually realise that compromise is the only solution in such divisive times.

Away from Brexit, I have been active in Parliament and Worcestershire over the last few weeks. I joined Ministers at DCMS in meeting Dementia Friends and discussing how we could destigmatise attitudes towards dementia. I also joined Healthwatch England and the Internet Advertising Bureau at events that highlighted local care and digital marketing issues respectively.

I hosted the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce at an engaging business lunch that included a well-received speech by Small Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst.

In the House of Commons, I was active on issues including Israel, Voter ID, income tax and Brexit contingency planning. I also asked a Prime Minister’s Question on the Crime Bill, which will allow us to collaborate with other states in, amongst many other things, fighting terrorism.

Back in the constituency, I had informal meetings with Father Timothy Hupfield, Rev Stephen Winter, Sharon Smith, of the Chamber of Commerce, and Julie Smith, of the ever-popular Julie’s Café on the Berry Hill Industrial Estate of Droitwich.

I visited Bowbrook House School and Harvington First School, as well as welcoming Westacre Middle School to Parliament. Children in all three schools engaged brilliantly with questions and showed a genuine interest in the workings of politics.

Elsewhere, I visited the new Waitrose and Areca Design in Evesham, the Norton Waste Facility, the Hartlebury Trading Estate and the South Worcestershire Retail Seminar.

With the end of the Article 50 period just over a month away, I expect another busy time in the weeks ahead.