Last week I had the huge privilege of visiting the Falkland
Islands to visit our armed forces there.
My visit was as part of a cross-party delegation of MPs from
the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS). The visit was planned many months
ago and I was pleased to be able to still go despite the Parliamentary recess
being cancelled.
The Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme is a programme to give
Members of Parliament and peers in the United Kingdom experience of the armed
forces. Its aim is to improve the quality of debate on military issues, and it does
this by exposing its members to first-hand experience of the services.
This was an amazing experience. The Falkland Islands are so
remote yet so beautiful and remain one of the most unspoilt places in the world.
The Falkland Islands have a population of just over 3,000 and the main
industries include fishing, tourism and farming, so in some respects, there are
familiarities with Cornwall.
Life on the Falklands is a challenge but it is equally an
amazing place to be. It was also very moving to learn more about the 1982 war
and retrace the steps of some of our troops. The stories of courage and
commitment are truly inspiring.
We continue to maintain a military presence in and around
the Falklands and as such there is a significant amount of defence funding in
this area. I was pleased to meet with a number of personnel from around the
various military installations for an update on their important work
safeguarding our territory and the people who live and work there. Additionally
our presence is of wider strategic significance as the islands form the
Atlantic gateway to Antarctica.
One thing that was a real surprise was finding people from
Cornwall, seemingly everywhere I went. It’s been said in the past that you can
look down a hole anywhere in the world and find a Cornishman there, and this
theory seems to have been updated to include finding fellow Cornishmen and
women on these small and remote islands too.
In particular I met a navigator on HMS Clyde who lives in
Newquay and the Harbour Master for the military port who comes from Fowey. It
was good to catch up with them and have some familiar topics to talk about even
that far away from home.
It was also a surprise to find the Cornish Coat of Arms on
the wall in the Governor’s House. Apparently there are strong links between
Cornwall and the Falklands which I am interested to discover more about.
Indeed, in recent years the principal counsel for the Falkland Islands
Government has actually come over for a prolonged job swap with an equivalent
legal officer from Cornwall Council in 2012, something which I am sure was a
real eye opener for both people! I also learned that a former Governor of the
islands also lives in our constituency.
One notable thing I discovered about the Falkland Islands is
the lack of internet and phone connectivity – things we take for granted in the
UK. On my return it has been good to catch up on the interesting developments
from last week regarding Brexit and MPs leaving the political parties they were
elected under to join the so-called Independent Group. This is something I will
probably touch on in a future column but for now I am pleased to back in the
UK, recovering from my 19 hour flight and continuing to represent you as your
strong Cornish voice in Westminster.
My team and I are here to serve the whole constituency and
work hard to make a real difference to the lives of everyone needing support.
The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm (no appointment
necessary). If there is an issue you would like my assistance on then please,
either visit the office or contact me on either 01726 829379 or
office@stevedouble.org.uk. Additionally, I hold regular, appointment only,
advice surgeries across the constituency. Dates of these can be found at:
www.stevedouble.org.uk/events
