It has been almost exactly 70 years since the last Coronation, so this really is a day to remember for the country . State occasions like this are a fantastic unifying moment, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to share our pride in Britain’s history and its values.
I have no doubt that Swindon, like the rest of the country, will put on a fantastic show – and there are many events going on across the town. Pinetrees Community Centre in Pinehurst have a big celebration tomorrow, with food and craft stalls, facepainting, and even stilt walkers! There are also festivities taking place at Highworth Rec which include a falconry display, ferret racing, petting farm, inflatable assault course, and a variety of food vendors. In Blunsdon, the Village Hall will be showing the coronation live on Saturday, and on Sunday there is a ‘bring your own picnic’ at the Rec with live music, competitions, and art activities. There will be many events taking place across the weekend, so please do keep an eye out!
While the coronation celebrates the beginning of King Charles III’s reign, it also marks the end of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and the second Elizabethan era. I am sure I join many people in wishing His Majesty King Charles and Her Majesty Camilla the Queen Consort, the best of luck as they begin their reign and set about living up to the late Queen’s monumental legacy.
There was good news this week as a new law was introduced by the Government as part of ‘Sian’s Legacy’, which will help to safeguard passengers and crack down on unfit taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.
Sian O’Callaghan was murdered by a cab driver following a night out in Swindon in 2011. Since Sian’s tragic death, her mother Elaine Pickford and brother Liam O’Callaghan have joined with the Suzy Lamplugh Trust to campaign for improvements to taxi and private hire vehicle licensing in order to improve passenger safety.
The new law will make it compulsory for councils across England to use a national database to record instances where taxi and Private Hire Vehicle drivers have their licences removed for misconduct. This new law will prevent them from simply reapplying for a licence in other areas by alerting the system to concerns about their prior behaviour.
In 2018, I had the privilege of launching the campaign in Parliament, and my South Swindon colleague, Sir Robert Buckland MP helped create the legislation. To help such an important campaign make such a vital change in the law is one of the best and most rewarding parts of being an MP. However, the determination of Sian’s family to ensure that no family experiences the same pain that they went through was the real driving force behind the campaign, and they should be extremely proud of the change they have secured.
Finally, the local election count is taking place this morning and candidates will be eagerly awaiting the results. As a Councillor for ten years prior to becoming an MP, I am all too aware of the nail biting wait to find out whether the weeks of hard work paid off!
For those lucky enough to win today, I hope they find this wonderful opportunity to represent their communities as enjoyable and rewarding as I did.
