TIM LOUGHTON: Parliament competes in annual pancake race

This charity event to raise awareness of help and inclusion for those with brain injury or learning disabilities has been going since 1998 and is keenly contested by teams from the Commons, the Lords and the Press Gallery.

When I say ‘keenly contested’ I mean there is an awful lot of pushing, barging, nobbling and general cheating in pursuit of the prized medals.

As usual there is a traditional grudge match between MPs and journalists whilst this year we also needed to make sure their Lordships didn’t get above themselves with the sensitive Article 50 Bill still going through their House.

As it was they were only able to manage half a team blaming it on the late nights from the Brexit debates, and so had to run two legs each which really left them gasping for air.

I am glad to say that the MPs team retained the crown though with not much help from me having overexerted myself on the final bend and pulled a hamstring. Wimp!

What is more notable however, if last year is anything to go by, is that I will get more comments from constituents having seen the media coverage (there were even reporters from Japanese TV there!) than for any of the heavyweight speeches I thought I had made in the Commons. Such is the nature of politics but it was in a good cause.

My latest constituency newsletter is out this week and I have given fuller updates on the school funding issue, civil partnerships, post office closures and Southern Rail. There is a lot going on at the moment!

You can see it on www.timloughton.com if you do not already subscribe to it directly.

I was also able to go into more detail on these and many other local issues in an interview with Seaside Radio at Southlands Hospital which really has come on a long way and will be moving into a new studio in part on the new build on the site which should hopefully be completed this summer.

You can hear their broadcasts online on www.seasidehr.com

• If you would like to get in touch with me, please write to me at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA, or email me at [email protected]

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