Another week, more uproar in Parliament. The House of Commons is a lively place at the calmest of times, but some of the language and behaviour now becoming routine is concerning. Verbal sparring is spilling into abuse. Scuffles, however minor, are not part of our political culture.

Chaos, tumult, uproar. As I write this on Tuesday night, the Government has just lost a vote on the Commons taking control of the order paper. Parliament is reeling. 21 Conservative MPs, good people and friends of mine, have been expelled from the Party. A general election looms. 

This week local hospital managers published their “Fit for the Future” blueprint for the future of health services in Gloucestershire – including for A&E.

This week I travelled to London, to the Department of Health and Social Care, to brief the Health Minister and special adviser about Gloucestershire health bosses’ completely misconceived plans for getting rid of Cheltenham’s A&E.

Late last week I discovered that local NHS Trust managers were briefing others on plans to downgrade the A&E at Cheltenham General Hospital.

Following Alex Chalk’s intervention, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust managers have paused publication of their plans to try and downgrade Cheltenham’s A&E services. 

Universal superfast broadband across Cheltenham has come a step closer following the latest intervention by Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk.

I warmly welcome the Government’s announcement that an additional 20,000 police officers will be recruited in England and Wales over the next three years. The recruitment drive will start as early as September with the launch of a national campaign.

Congratulations to Boris Johnson on his election as the new Prime Minister.

More investment for Cheltenham General Hospital! Last week I was delighted to visit the £2m+ Apollo theatre at CGH, just days before it opened to NHS patients.