Next Thursday 23rd May, the most absurd and unnecessary set of elections in the UK’s history will take place. We will all be invited to elect people to represent us in a Parliament, that three years ago a clear majority of the British people voted to leave.

The people of this bit of Lincolnshire have this week elected new members to South Kesteven District Council. How many of those who voted in these elections know which services are the responsibility of the District Council and which are provided by Lincolnshire County Council?

Grantham Hospital - Campaign Highlights

The sorry saga of Grantham A&E is nothing short of a scandal. That it should remain closed at night two and half years after a “temporary” closure was introduced because of staff shortages is a source of great shame for me as the local MP and supporter of the Conservative government.

Am I still a Conservative?

This evening I am attending a meeting with members of the local Conservative association. Many of them are unhappy about the things I have been saying and doing in Parliament in relation to Brexit and want me to be deselected as the local Conservative standard bearer. That is their right.

Over past weeks, it has become increasingly apparent that the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration on the Future Relationship negotiated by the Prime Minister are unlikely to obtain majority support in the House of Commons today.

Who do I serve?

So this is it. The moment of truth. The next time I write in these pages the Commons will have voted on the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal. Anything could happen. She could win, against the odds. She could lose, renegotiate the deal and then win on the second time of asking.

On 9 November last year, in the opening chapter of my book Square Deal I called for the Chancellor Philip Hammond to use his forthcoming Autumn Statement to declare that the age of austerity was over. One year later,  I am glad to say he has used this week’s Budget to do what I recommended.