Robert Buckland Weblog

Whatever happened to the idea that August was a time of quiet reflection and relaxation for politicians?   I am trying to have a few days here and there, and am looking forward to a longer break around the Bank Holiday, but this month has kept me busy in and around Swindon.  I have used the [...]

I was delighted to speak at this morning’s launch of Swindon’s Plan 500, held at Nationwide’s Headquarters at Pipers Way.  Together with fellow Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson, Council Leader Rod Bluh and a host of business people, it was a pleasure to meet some of the young people who are benefiting from employer mentoring and work [...]

Yesterday’s Surgery at Walcot Community Library and Shop brought  wide variety of issues to the table.  They ranged from the barriers that face deaf people when they are called for Jury service to the particular needs and concerns of a severely disabled young man whose parents live apart from each other.  I was extremely grateful [...]

I had the honour of delivering the Eulogy at the funeral of my father-in-law, John Reed, at St.Mary’s Church, Tenby, this afternoon.   Cardinal Newman’s poem, “The Dream of Gerontius”, later adapted in a memorable piece by Sir Edward Elgar, is an uplifting and deeply moving account of the journey of a dying man to the [...]

The broadcast media have failed again to properly report what was a considered and important speech from the Lord Chancellor yesterday.  Let’s get things straight here; no-one is saying that serious violent or sexual offenders should not receive proper jail sentences.  One of the primary functions of terms of imprisonment is to protect the public.  [...]

Another varied week has passed, which started with an interesting discussion on the BBC Politics Show West programme on Sunday with David Nutt, former Chair of the Advisory Panel on Drugs.  Dr. Nutt favours decriminialisation of cannabis.  I favour its criminalisation, but we agreed that the current class system of drugs was no longer workable.  [...]

The mood of the House of Commons can alter in moments.   The sombre and reflective atmosphere when the names of fallen service personnel are read out by the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition can very quickly give way to noisy and lively exchanges between speakers and those who are in a sedentary position.  [...]

The next meeting of the Swindon SEN Network is going to be on Friday 2nd July at 7.15pm, at Lawn Community Centre, Guildford Avenue.  The guest speaker will be Paddy Bradley, Director of Schools for Swindon Borough Council.  We will also have group sessions.  All welcome.  Tea and coffee will be provided.   My next Surgery [...]

As I have slowly found my way around Westminster, I have been given lots of advice by older MPs, much of it conflicting.  The best piece of advice I have received is that I should try and push all the buttons and pull all the levers to see how Parliament works.  So I have decided to do this trying oral [...]

After only a few days working in Westminster, I can see clearly why and how people can all too easily fall under its spell.   The sheer grandeur of the place is wonderful, but the unsuspecting new MP could almost without realising it find themselves slipping into habits and attitudes that they would not dare display [...]