Page 25 - Phonebox Magazine August 2011

also have an impact on migration. If people are happy and can get a job in their own country then they will less likely to want to migrate to other countries. So actually all in all we can potentially do great things with limited amounts of money to achieve a maximum value.
Question: Do you enjoy your work as an MP?
Mark said: Most of it I enjoy enormously, no two days are ever the same; it is an enormous honour to represent the people of Milton Keynes North. The bits I enjoy the most are casework, making your own difference to people, helping people solve the problems they physically cannot solve themselves and making a difference also in Parliament is very rewarding. But it does have its moments, the hours are very long, it’s very hard to maintain a civilised family life, but on balance it’s a great honour and I certainly enjoy it.
Question: What is your objective of introducing a Bill to Parliament that will allow the Royal Mint to produce a special coin to
mark the 2012 Olympic games?
Mark said: Well there’s a funny system where we have a Private Members bill and very rarely they actually get made into law, there is a whole variety to chose from but the rule is that if you want your private members bill to succeed it has to be very simple, as soon as it starts getting complicated then the chance of success is almost zero. So by choosing this bill I was determined really to try and find a bill that had a chance of becoming law but also to feel that I had made a contribution to raise a lot of money to support our Olympic games held here, so it is a combination of factors but we have many budding young athletes here in Milton Keynes who will be taking part in the 2012 Olympic games, and by making this very small technical change
in the law we can now raise a significant amount of money to help pay for the Olympics and to help young athletes succeed in years to come, so not only getting a law passed through parliament but having a positive draw and doing some good for athletes.
Question: Do you feel your position has been
undermined now the executive is more
powerful?
Mark said: I think in the main our parliamentary system works, if anything Parliament has got stronger due to recent changes and now back bench committees of MP’s take more and more of what is debated in Parliament and the role of which they traditionally had patronage and whips in the main has been reduced. So for example, this Thursday we have a back bench committee deciding what will go on in Parliament so if anything we have moved the other way where Parliament is stronger now and more in power from the last general election. I think also that the Coalition government means that the scrutiny on the executive is greater and not less so it is important to find that balance between governing and scrutiny. The select committees no longer have whips to decide who goes onto the select committees, which means that if anything I think there is more scrutiny.
Question: You don’t think that Parliament needs to reassert its power?
Mark said: I think that Parliament is reasserting its power and this has happened under the Coalition government and new arrangements where you have a number of debates in parliament which under the circumstances the government has changed its position to hold more scrutiny on the executive.
Question: What do you feel Politicians could
do to energise young people into taking an
interest in Politics?
Mark said: I think you have to make it more relevant and make young people feel that they have a voice and what they say matters, and I think in many respects the government has devolved power to communities and by doing this young people can become more involved, if you are to make a difference you have to be involved.
Question: So how do you think the low
turnout at elections could be genuinely
improved?
Mark said: I think it is the same answer, I think we have to make people realize that their vote does count and that it will have a direct impact on their lives. In the last general election we had a number of seats which were won by just a handful of votes and people began to see that their vote does matter and does count, its also a clear indication that not all Politicians are the same and not all Political Parties are the same, and that people do have a choice.
Question: What initially interested you into
having a career in Politics?
Mark said: I think a number of things really, because I think a lot of people talk about doing a lot of things but they tend not to do it. I remember my Father saying while I was shouting at the TV during Prime Ministers question time to stop shouting and do something about it, because I think unless you are involved and this perhaps links back to why young people should be involved in politics in that you have to have a voice or you can’t make a difference, so really it was determination to try and make a difference, and the biggest buzz I get from Politics is when you manage to do something like get somebody an operation at the hospital or get someone on benefits that they need. That’s really why I get a joy from Politics, as it’s the little things that make a difference to people.
I thanked Mark for taking time out of his busy schedule in order to have this interview before he left for Westminster and I hope what he has said has answered questions or raised interest.
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