I have had some extraordinary weeks in Westminster since being elected but this one was right up with them all. The biggest shock was the demise of the Crown with our amazing Queen Elizabeth II passing on. Back in 2019 it did cross my mind that it could happen during my term in Parliament, but it is still a massive shock when it happens. Only last Monday I was showing some guests around Westminster Hall and showing the plaques recording the historic events ranging from several laying in states to speeches by statesmen like Nelson Mandela. I never for one second thought that a week later I would be attending such an event, nor that, in the space of one week, we would change Prime Minister and Monarch.
My week started quite normally on Wednesday with a briefing at the M.O.D. for the AFPS (Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme) before heading to collect my uniform for this from Wellington Barracks. I will explain more about the AFPS I will participate in during the forthcoming year. The Scheme will provide me and other MPs with an insight into our Armed Forces.
I then went to the Chamber of the House for Prime Minister’s Questions, always an interesting experience but more so this time with Liz Truss taking her first turn at the despatch box as PM. I had a meeting with the Northern Research Group and one with Local Trust, who are the secretariat for the Left Behind Neighbourhoods APPG that I chair.
On Wednesday night I headed north for what was supposed to be the highlight of the week. As you are aware, I sit on the BEIS Select Committee and I had persuaded them of the importance of visiting Aycliffe and NETPark as part of our enquiry into the semiconductor market. We were to combine this with a visit to Nissan on Friday for another inquiry. Thursday started as expected with us meeting at II-VI in Newton Aycliffe to visit their semiconductor fabrication plant, frequently known as a fab. For those not aware this is the site that started as Fujitsu before being Filtronic. This is an established player in the semiconductor market, and it was informative for the committee to meet and listen to them.
We then headed to NETPark where we met several businesses at the innovative heart of the sector. They are creating completely different products from the chips or integrated circuits, critical for computing and so much modern technology and are using synthetic diamonds smaller than a human hair to inorganic matter! This gave the committee a perspective both on how the market could develop and the need for UK finance to support them to ensure we are resilient as a nation. We were then heading to an evening round table session when news broke of the Queen’s death.
This of course meant that our Nissan visit was cancelled, and I headed back to Westminster on Friday morning. The House, after formalities, took tributes for the Queen. This was immediately scheduled to last until 10.00pm on Friday night and again for Saturday. Any MP that wants to speak applies, and then The Speaker’s Office performs a ballot. Over 300 MPs contributed across the two days, we were encouraged to keep these to three minutes to give as many members as possible the opportunity to speak. Indeed, although Friday was scheduled to finish at 10.00pm, it ran closer to 11.00pm.
Before we started on Saturday a number of members swore allegiance to King Charles III and the rest of us will have the opportunity over the coming weeks. It is not essential to do this, but myself and many will. I was called to give a tribute to the Queen on Saturday which I did at around 4.30 in the afternoon. I have not met the Queen, so I could not recount any exchanges like many colleagues did. I gave condolences and thanks on behalf of you all and I then read a poem. This had been written and posted on Facebook by one of my constituents in Wingate and I found it poignant and moving so I asked if I could use it and was given permission.
After business on Saturday, I headed home to join the proclamations in Durham and Darlington of the new King. This is purely communication and, of course, now largely symbolic and is how in the past the population would have been informed. It makes you remember that when the Queen came to the throne, we were only just starting to see TVs in peoples’ houses, never mind the internet! The King ascends to the throne immediately upon the death of the reigning monarch, the proclamations are just informing everyone.
After these it was back on the train, I headed to London on Sunday to be there for when King Charles III addressed the Members of the Lords and Commons in Westminster Hall on Monday morning.
This was a historic occasion and I felt extremely privileged to be there representing you all. We had the Speakers from the Lords and Commons both giving an address to which the King responded. It had all the ceremony that we do so well.
I then returned to the constituency and will visit as many of the books of condolence as I can, and work here, before returning to London in time for the funeral.
The only way to finish this week is to say may Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II rest in peace and rise in glory and long live King Charles III.
Paul Howell, MP for Sedgefield