Had a most interesting and fascinating visit to a company on the Granby Industrial Estate called Tecan Ltd. I was met by MD Neil Walker, who could not have been nicer or more accommodating. I soon learnt that the business started in a garage more than 50 years ago.
Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset has questioned Britain’s ability to fight a sustained war after years of defence cuts, saying “this relatively minor excursion in the Red Sea is yet another wake up call.”
My first task was to draft my weekly column for the local paper. I then dealt with a mass of correspondence, before driving to Swanage. Had a most interesting time meeting residents and had plenty of feedback.
On the day of a defence debate, it was perhaps pertinent that the head of the Army said Britain should “train and equip” a “citizen army” to ready the country for a potential land war, and he's not the only one saying prepare for war. But, more of that later.
My hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset (Richard Drax) spoke using his detailed military knowledge to the advantage of the House, with considerable historical analogy. The hon. Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) warned the House about the importance of defending international maritime law.
This debate is seriously important because, as I think we all agree, there has to be Government accountability for the action that they take. I am therefore genuinely pleased that the debate has taken place, and hope that further such debates take place in future.
