IT HAS been an absolute whirlwind since the people of Thurrock elected me to be their MP on 4 July. After a few hours sleep on Friday morning, I made an appearance on BBC Essex to describe what an honour it was to become the MP for my home. Whether you voted for me or not, I will work hard for you and will be a strong advocate for the people of Thurrock in Parliament.
Following a celebratory lunch with my campaign team and spending some much needed time with my family on Friday, I received a call from the House of Commons Authorities inviting me to go in to pick up my pass and be shown around the building on Saturday morning.
We went as a family, and it was when we entered the Commons Chamber for the first time that it really hit me. The privilege of being your representative in that place, making sure that the laws we make there work for the people of Thurrock and improve lives in our community, became very real to me in that moment.
Following the tour, I was given a number of briefings including on security and how to set up an office and recruit staff. I’m now working on setting up my office, although at the moment all I have is a locker – it’s very much like being back at school for now!
For the rest of the week my diary was filled up with various training sessions from House procedure to cyber security. On Monday we held our very first Parliamentary Labour Party meeting where we were addressed by the Prime Minister and I met my new colleagues from across the country. That was another moment of clarity for me, all the things we had been campaigning on will now be put in place, thanks to the voters for putting their trust in us.
On Tuesday was my first full experience of the House of Commons where we elected our Speaker. This was the first opportunity to see a full chamber, I didn’t even manage to get a seat, I had to stand at the back!
On Thursday my husband and youngest daughter were able to come in and watch me swear in, where I formally become your Member of Parliament by swearing an oath on the Bible and signing the book of MPs, another extraordinary moment for me in a week full of them!
I must say, after a week of training it was a relief to get back to Thurrock on Friday to conduct my first set of meetings as your MP. As I said during the campaign, as a mother of a disabled child, fixing our broken SEND system and making it work for children and families like mine is a huge priority for me. So it was great to have my first constituency meetings as Thurrock’s MP with Gina from Thurrock SEND family forum and Mo who runs the PATT SENDIASS service.
Later I popped into the excellent Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions AGM – a fantastic local organisation run by disabled people for disabled people – great fun as well, all AGM’s should end with a disco.
I had a really enjoyable Sunday afternoon at the Summer Fair in South Ockendon organised by SRV events, it was a wonderful family fun day and it was great to meet so many people, enjoy some great food and drink and have a dance, I couldn’t get my girls off the bouncy castle!
It’s been an extraordinary first week and I’m just starting to get settled into my new role. I do now have an email address – [email protected] so please do get in touch, although it is taking me a bit longer that I would like to get back to people until I have a full staff team in place, so I appreciate your patience while this happens.
All that leaves me to say it that you for electing me to be the MP for Thurrock and whether you supported me or not, I’m here to represent you so please get in touch with any issues.
Congratulations Jen, well deserved. Thank you for supporting our Community, with your passion, the Community supports you in this journey.
Congratulations on your win Jen for The Thurrock Constituency it was indeed a much needed change, However , I Myself along with many others I’m sure will follow your progress in The Hope that You will make The difference to Your Constituents, Good Luck from Cllr John Allen, Independent Councillor for Tilbury Riverside & Thurrock Park.
So good to see you there