Another extraordinary day. It began calmly enough with a good run around the park. After a short session of physio, I headed to the Royal Courts of Justice to meet Claire Blackman and her husband's legal team. We'd gathered there to hear the judges' decision on whether or not Mr Blackman's murder sentence should be quashed and replaced with manslaughter. Everything hung on this because manslaughter comes with 50 per cent remission on sentence. As you can imagine, the stress was tangible as we all sat in Court 4 waiting for Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas. He appeared from behind velvet curtains at 1030 on the dot. He sat down, read out a very short statement to the effect that the panel of five judges agreed with the defence's case and that the murder conviction was indeed quashed. You can imagine the joy that filled the court and before anyone had time to react Lord Thomas had disappeared. I turned to Claire and hugged her. She is the bravest of the brave and has fought her husband's corner with courage and dignity throughout. It has been an honour and privilege to get to know her and Al. We understand that the final hearing will be next week. There QC Jonathan Goldberg will argue that Al should be released immediately on the basis he has now served three and a half years in prison. After the hearing, we all filed out into the sun to meet the waiting press. Claire read a statement and then disappeared to Mr Goldberg's Chambers for a much-needed cuppa! I and author Freddie Forsyth gave various interviews before I joined Claire and the legal team. What an occasion and what an outcome. Justice has at last been served and I just hope that Al will soon be home with his wife, where he belongs. I'd kept an eye on my watch, as I and a group of colleagues were meeting the PM at 1320 to discuss school funding. There is disquiet that the new proposed formula will not provide a fair outcome, especially to historically low-funded seats like mine. We all made our points very clear at a private meeting and the PM listened intently. Mrs May is doing a fabulous job and I'm very impressed. Then it was into the Chamber to listen to and support Philip Hammond, who had decided not to raise national insurance contributions on the self-employed after all. I'm afraid this was a U-turn, but Mr Hammond was absolutely right to come to the House in person and explain the change of heart. He did so in a most dignified and calm manner, while the Shadow Chancellor spat bile from the other side of the Despatch Box. Hardly edifying. I did catch the Speaker's eye and asked the Chancellor whether he'd consider reviewing the overseas aid budget, where so much money goes to waste. Of course we should help those less fortunate than ourselves, but not to the detriment of our own citizens. A balance is needed and enshrining our generosity in law at 0.7 of GDP was not the most sensible thing to do. What a day of excitement, relief and political drama. It's never dull here.