Is this justice? This week Steven Sharpe, the man who stabbed his victim to death in Shakespeare Road in Cheltenham last year, was (rightly) sentenced to life imprisonment at Bristol Crown Court. He will serve a minimum of 24 years, and may never be released. Hours later, Martin McGuinness, the Butcher of Bogside and murderer of dozens, went to his grave a free – and even feted – man.
There will be a range of views. Mine is that whilst we have to acknowledge his indispensable contribution to peace in Northern Ireland, we should never forget – nor forgive – McGuinness’ past; nor that his credibility to hard-line nationalists as a negotiator was built upon a terrible record of violence. Peter Lilley MP testified that McGuinness admitted to the murder of twelve Catholic ‘informants’. And the kidnap of an innocent maintenance man from a British Army base who was booby-trapped and forced to drive to a checkpoint was particularly horrifying. When the bomb went off he and five soldiers died, leaving his wife with just a hand to bury. McGuinness had personal charm, certainly. But he had a chilling ability to smile and threaten at the same time.
It’s been another busy week for our town in Parliament. On Monday I hosted the very first Cheltenham@Parliament event, with over 70 local people representing businesses, schools and charities flying the flag for the town. We have an astonishing breadth of talent in Cheltenham, and we need to let the world know about it. In an era of accelerating localism we have to recognise that we’re in a race. Whether it's with the likes of the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ or the ‘Midlands Engine’, we have to get our voice heard and forge our own unique ‘offer’.
This is about securing a strong future for our town. If we want the next generation to stay in Gloucestershire, we have to give them reasons to stay. So we need to create the jobs which support excellent health and education services. None of the above emerges by accident. All require vision and hard work.
The event was really well received. We attracted over 150 attendees, including Ministers, MPs, and members of the House of Lords. I'll continue to take every opportunity to promote Cheltenham in Parliament.
Don’t forget Mother’s Day this Sunday. To quote William Thackery (and Eric Draven in The Crow) “Mother is the name of God on the lips and hearts of little children”. At least once a year our mums deserve a lie-in and breakfast in bed. They’ve certainly earned it.