I was first elected as the MP for Mid Bedfordshire in May 2005 and my feet really haven’t touched the ground since.

My background is one of nursing and business, broken by a spell of teaching in a school in Africa.

The mother of three daughters I am originally from Liverpool and arrived at my constituency via a long spell in the Cotswolds.

As an MP I constantly draw upon skills learnt or gained during my pre political life.

Never one to sit still, I have found the challenges Mid Bedfordshire has presented exhilarating> whoever told me it was a quiet rural constituency on the day I was elected was obviously having a joke at my expense!

A constituency of 77,000 homes there are plans afoot to increase this by a further 120,000.

Preventing Mid Bedfordshire from being swamped by concrete remains my main focus and my biggest challenge.

As a young nurse living on a council estate, I learnt to communicate with people from all walks of life. After all, you never knew who was going to arrive in Casualty next, the homeless drug addict or a barrister. This is a skill which serves me well every day in my role as an MP.

I like to think that whilst having developed a reputation as a tough campaigner and fighter on behalf of my constituents, they know that I’m just as able with a box of tissues and a big shoulder to cry on.

That will always be at the heart of everything I do. Representing, speaking out, working hard for every individual who needs my help, regardless of whether they voted for me or not or what their political beliefs are. It is of no consequence to me. I am the elected to represent everyone in Mid Bedfordshire and will continue to do so whilst always carrying with me the knowledge that it is a hugest privilege and honour to do so.

Blog Policy

It’s simple. Be nice. If you try and misinterpret the position I have laid out in a blog; if you swear, are rude, abusive, aggressive or threatening, I will not publish. If you want to be any of the above, there are lots of other sites you can go to.

This blog is civil, respectful and will try always to be caring (except when in verbally, armed, political combat) I will not tolerate the harsh political, aggressive tones accepted on other blogs. Anyone who breaks these rules will be sent to the naughty step until they learn to behave. I have a very keen nose for Trolls, so beware.