Surgeries, which I am now pleased to say have resumed physically rather than virtually, have always been for constituents to share their many and various problems with me so that I might do whatever I can to assist them. They are not a place for demonstrations, people to exchange their party-political views or an opportunity for people with serious problems to be intimidated whilst seeking help from their local MP. Fortunately, we live in a democracy and elections give people the opportunity to express their views on who they would like as a local councillor or Member of Parliament.

My last surgery was held at West Leigh Baptist Church and ten minutes into it a group of people turned up outside the building to demonstrate and make a noise. None of them, according to my office, had tried to make an appointment to see me. A member of staff closed the blinds whilst I continued to try to listen to constituents but was unable to do so because of the noise, so we had to move upstairs. This meant that the whole of my surgery was delayed by 20 minutes, keeping constituents waiting, and eventually making me late for a planned visit to Southend Hospital.

I subsequently learnt that the demonstration was to do with climate change and the environment generally. Undue noise in itself is a form of pollution which many constituents complain about. I have also learnt that two local councillors were involved in this protest. I would have thought that councillors, whichever party they belong to, should really know better than to behave in this way and try to disrupt an advice surgery.

I want to reassure constituents that I fully intend to continue with my face-to-face surgeries and, if necessary, a police presence will be requested to allow me to do so.