David Amess

 Frank Carson died on 22 February. He was a wonderful comedian who had that gift of walking in to a room of immediately making everyone feel good about themselves. I vividly recall his last performance at the Cliffs Pavilion, when I had the honour of spending time with him in person after the gig. I asked him why at his age, he still kept working. To which he said, “because I love what I do; I can still make people laugh. It’s the way that you tell them”.

  On 23 January, David Atkinson died. I extend my deepest sympathy to his family and to his friends. David Atkinson was a close friend of mine, who throughout my career in politics was a great source of encouragement and advice. He was a great parliamentarian, who looking back on his career was a force for good, making a real difference to people’s lives.

  Southend West MP David Amess joined forces with local ActionAid campaigners John Metcalf and Zoë Sanders to call for a stop to a new tax loophole that could cost billions. Countries in the developing world are losing huge sums to tax havens by big business avoiding taxes - funds that are urgently needed to pay for education and health care.

 David Amess MP today met with the WWF, and heard the key issue that they are highlighting in 2012. The Foundation, who in 2011 celebrated 50 years of conservation, is calling for stronger political leadership to address the challenges of the interconnected environmental, social and economic crises, focusing on food water and energy for all and the green economy. It is also supporting the proposal for Sustainable Development Goals as the basis of the post-2015 development framework.

 David Amess MP gathered with local women for a special prayer service for the women of Malaysia. The service was themed “Let Justice Prevail”, in order to echo the present day concerns of the discrimination still endured by Malay women, especially in the fields of education. Although women are beginning to be accepted into higher education and professional positions, they are still very much in the minority.

 Despite visiting Southend airport for the opening of its new terminal, I want my constituents to know that my support for residents is not going to change. My attendance was fuelled by a necessity to know what is going on in the local area, and while I opposed expansion, I do support Southend airport as a whole. Residents should know that I will continue to fight airport expansion in Southend and the Thames Estuary, and will do all I can to support them.

 David Amess MP today attended the Parliamentary Mum’s Café, created by The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood and supported by the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health, to mark International Women’s Day to highlight thehundreds of thousands of pregnant women who continue to die and suffer in childbirth.

 David Amess MP helped celebrate the achievements of some remarkable young people by attending the annual Whizz-Kidz Achievement Awards 2012 in the Houses of Parliament yesterday.

 David Amess MP saw firsthand the benefits of Apprenticeships at an event in Parliament. Speaking directly to those had profited from such schemes, Mr Amess learnt that in an ever changing world, where youth employment is particularly high, apprenticeships provide a key stepping stone into industry. The schemes allow top notch skills to be learnt, but is at the same time a real job, with average salaries of £170 per week.

  David Amess MP took great delight in visiting Kingsdown School, for the grand of opening of their fantastic new swimming pool. The pool is the latest addition to Kingsdown, a Community Special School that caters for pupil with special needs, aged from 4 to 14. Treated to a fun filled day, including musical entertainment and the releasing of balloons to mark the opening, Mr Amess was also shown around by Headteacher Margaret Rimmer.