Doncaster MP looks back on first six months in office

I have often asked myself, is being an MP what I expected?

Truthfully, the answer is both yes and no.

I knew I could make a real difference and that has been confirmed.

Yet I didn’t think the hours would be quite so long.

Mondays, in particular, can be a killer.

Starting with a virtual meeting with my staff at 8am is followed by a train at 10am.

Once I arrive in Westminster, I have meetings to attend to, constituents to help and am often voting in the chamber until 10pm.

Yet that’s my job and I am so glad that the people of Don Valley chose me to act on their behalf.My first months as an MP have not been easy though.

Dealing with the devastating floods affecting my constituents was followed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Most recently, we have had to deal with protests which have turned a little nasty in many parts of the country.

Yet my pride in Doncaster was reaffirmed when protestors in our area practised social distancing.My proudest moment being an MP was delivering my maiden speech, which set out what I want to achieve for Don Valley and why.

The most daunting moment was when I asked my first question in the Chamber to the Home secretary on my first day back after Christmas.

The saddest moment was hearing that our Prime Minister was in intensive care, although I understand that if you have lost someone personally then that would have been much worse.While I haven’t been an MP for long, I already have some moments which I am pleased with.

One of my biggest achievements has been inviting Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to visit Doncaster Royal Infirmary in January.

Supporting the visit of the then aviation minister, Paul Maynard, to Doncaster Airport was also a highlight.

More recently, it was great to help with the reopening of the Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

I know my staff have their own proud moments, as they have already helped many of myconstituents resolve issues – which they call ‘wins’.

The public often only see MPs on television or when they go about their business in Parliament.

Yet constituency case work is probably the biggest part of a backbench MP’s job.

I have seen that when people have exhausted all avenues with their problems, they contact my office and we always try our best to help.

I have to say that my staff are very good!

Covid-19 has definitely stopped a lot of the things which I enjoyed the most as a backbench MP.

The school visits, discussions with local businesses and holding face-to-face advice surgeries are some of the things which I found most rewarding.

Yet the pandemic has not stopped my work on the issues that face Don Valley, especially the levelling-up agenda that I was elected on.

Like countless others, I have been having many meetings via Zoom or on Microsoft Teams.

This means I am still pressing ministers, at every opportunity, for a fair deal for Don Valley.

Coming out of lockdown is no doubt going to hurt many people financially and Don Valley isprobably going to be hit as hard as anywhere.

However, with the right amount of government investment and the can-do attitude of Don Valley people, I am sure we will come through this quickly.

Over the next six months there will be a new normal which we all have to get used to; socialdistancing and wearing of masks, a little less hand shaking and little more use of hand sanitiser.

Yet one thing will remain - my commitment to helping the people of Don Valley.

I look forward to seeing you soon and if you need help, please do email me [email protected]

Mr Fletcher, from Bawtry, who was chairman of Doncaster Conservatives, was elected MP for Don Valley in December, the first time the Conservative Party has ever won the seat.

He beat Labour’s Caroline Flint, who had held the seat since 1997, into second place.

Mr Fletcher polled 43.2 per cent of the vote, with 19,609 votes, ahead of Ms Flint on 35.2 per cent, with 15,979 votes.

The Brexit Party’s Paul Whitehurst came third with 6,247 votes, ahead of Liberal Democrat Mark Alcock, on 1,907, Green Party candidate Kate Needham on 872 and Chris Holmes, of the Yorkshire Party, on 823.