This week is Armed Forces Week and not only did I attend the Flag Raising Ceremony in Winchester, but we have also had a busy time in Westminster with many full time service personnel and reservists coming in to talk to us about their work. Undoubtedly one of the best things I have done since I became an MP was the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, which was hugely informative and a great deal of fun.
The Westminster excitement this week has been the vote on the Privileges Committee report, which I supported on Monday. I was very clear that Parliament itself established the Committee and then asked it to investigate. These sorts of reports are usually accepted by the House "on the nod", in other words without a vote. But the Labour Chief Whip seemed determined on Monday to force a division, so I supported the Committee, who frankly had a very tough job with a great deal of pressure piled on them.
On a happier note, the Ashes are here, and on Wednesday night I got to sit next to Ebony Rainford-Brent, cricket World Cup Winner, as she pointed out to Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain who were also present. Women's cricket has really taken off and I cannot wait to see England in action at the Ageas Bowl in a few weeks. My Select Committee has been doing a lot of work around misogyny in sport, so it was great to hear from Ebony about the opportunities and sheer joy cricket has brought her.