Heavens, what an historic day! It began with a regular meeting with my charming and able Whip Graham Stuart. We met for 30 minutes over a coffee and had a most constructive chat about all things political and more. He should be a minister and I truly hope that happens sooner rather than later. Anyway, the morning, of course, was dominated by the PM's speech, which is on my website under another heading. It was a quite excellent speech, setting out 12 simple priorities which the UK will be seeking as we negotiate our way out of the EU over the next two years. Mrs May courageously delivered what the majority of the people in this country wanted - to leave the EU entirely. Personally, I felt euphoric as this will at last set our great country free again, free to make our own laws, free to seek new trade deals, free to take charge of our destiny, without being tied to the EU, which will implode in time, and already is. There were two Statements after Treasury Questions at 1130 and I dropped down to the Chamber at about 1230 to attend both. The first was given by James Brokenshire on the current state of play in N Ireland. Having served there three times, I am always keen to hear the latest news, which is not good. There is no doubt that the elections that now have to follow Martin McGuinness's resignation are politically fuelled, with Sinn Fein playing fast and loose on the back of a scandal on a renewable energy scheme. I caught the Speaker's eye and asked the Secretary of State whether he shared my concerns that even after these elections it was unlikely that Sinn Fein would replace Mr Mcguinness, thereby causing the Government to initiate Direct Rule. I hope that does not happen, but nothing is ever certain in the Province, other than the fact that hate still exists on both sides, with some remaining intent on murder as a solution to their grievances. Afterwards, David Davis, who's in charge exiting the EU, came to the House to follow up on the PM's excellent statement. Again I asked a question, making the point that the millions of EU workers are unlikely to thank their political masters and bureaucrats for punitive arrangements with the UK when their livelihoods depended on trading with us. He concurred. Then it was off to meet Dominique Searle MBE, the Representative of Gibraltar to the UK. He'd asked to meet me as I was a member of the European Scrutiny Committee. A highly educated and affable man, he explained his concerns about Brexit and the implications of it on Gibraltar, especially with a potentially unfriendly and unhelpful Spain sitting just across the border. It was an interesting meeting but I could not spend long as I had another appointment to listen to General Sir Richard Barrons, former Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, in a room over at PCH. The meeting had been arranged by the Defence Select Committee and the general was talking about the future role of our armed forces and their preparedness, or not, for it. Sadly, due to my earlier meeting, I missed the general's contribution and caught up at the question and answer part of the meeting. I soon gathered that the general's view was pretty dire, to say the least, and the question and answer phase only confirmed that. The meeting was in confidence so I am unable to impart exactly what was said, other that comment that we need to up our game if the general is to be believed. Straight after that there was a vote and then off to another meeting, this time with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Andrea Leadsom. She was accompanied by her able minister Therese Coffey. Again, the meeting was behind closed doors, but I can tell you that I pressed both ministers of farming issues, bearing in mind my constituency is largely rural. We chatted to 2000 when the last vote of the day was called and then home. What a day. Well done the PM. Proud of her.