Early morning run, the dentist (never much fun) and into the Commons for another day on the committee stage of the EU Withdrawal Bill. A stint in the office and then to PCH to meet a Pfizer representative. He was a young fella who'd come to explain how they were trying to improve their PR, I think is what it boiled down to. One of the largest drugs manufacturers, I think the image can be of an organisation out to make a lot of money. I was told they were reaching out to all the various stakeholders to explain they were accessible and listening, especially when it came to drugs to combat rare diseases. Back to the office to complete a letter to the Dorset Labour Party and then into PMQs. It was a fairly lacklustre event this week, with Corbyn attempting inflict damage but not succeeding. Later in the afternoon, I dropped down to The Terrace where an FE event was being held. The delightful Nigel Evans, the Principal of Weymouth College, was attending and we'd agreed to meet. As I entered Labour's Nic Dakin was addressing about 50 attendees. I listened for between 10-15 minutes before he wound up and left. I have to say that I have never heard such a demotivating and negative address in my life. He did not have one positive comment to make about FE or what the Conservatives are trying to do. He simply mocked every initiative. I was saddened, as clearly this was yet another clear example of how politics is letting down our young people. It's just that the attitude was so negative; no inspiration, or even ideas of his own. We had the big vote in the evening. It was always going to be tight, with many in the House determined to prevent Brexit, including some on our own side, who simply have not the spine to say so. Ken Clarke I have a grudging respect for. His position has at least been consistent. We lost the vote narrowly and I, for one, feel that we were let down by our own side. With the PM heading for further talks with the EU tomorrow, this did nothing but hobble her. It also makes a 'hard Brexit' - as some insist on calling it - far more likely. The fight whether we stay in or leave the EU has been fought. I find it ironic that those Remainers say they are fighting under the banner of 'parliamentary sovereignty'. Where has that been for the last 40 years or so as more and more EU laws have taken effect without any scrutiny at all! It really is time for the whole of our Party to act as one, take us out of EU in the best possible way, and move on.