11 JAN 2012

Many of those who contact Stephen's office will have come across Amy who runs the diary and makes sure that our MP is where he is supposed to be on time – a very difficult job! There was exciting news in the Westminster office this week as Amy announced that she is going to make an honest man out of her long-term boyfriend, Tony Hind, who also works in Parliament. Amy and Tony are planning to share their big day next summer. The rest of the team, Stephen, Emma and Jan, offered hearty congratulations, toasting the happy couple with a glass on the terrace of the House of Commons. Stephen said, "Amy has been with me since I started as an MP doing a fabulous job ensuring that I can do everything which is required of me. Tony is a great chap and I want to wish both of them many years of happiness together."
20 DEC 2011

Stephen Phillips QC MP yesterday raised the case of his late constituent, Mr Martin Pratt, in the House of Commons in order to push for more help for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mr Pratt's wife, Suzan, recently came to see Stephen in a surgery concerned by the lack of communication between the various agencies responsible for his health. Stephen used an oral question to Defence ministers to raise the issue, receiving assurances from Andrew Robathan MP that the Government was working hard to improve treatment of veterans suffering from PTSD. Commenting afterwards, Stephen said, "I was extremely concerned by what Mrs Pratt told me about the gaps in the care that her husband received. Those are particularly hard to accept given the fact that he served our country. She is a very brave woman and although it is sadly too late for her husband, she is determined that no other family should suffer the same fate as hers. I am glad to have played a small part in trying to ensure that happens."
22 NOV 2011

Local MP Stephen Phillips was the guest speaker at the Annual General Meeting of Sleaford Citizens' Advice Bureau last week. Talking about the theme of the 'Big Society', and what it actually means for communities like ours, Stephen stressed that whilst towns and cities may have lost a sense of community cohesion, his experience is that volunteering and looking out for everyone in the community is very much alive and well in Lincolnshire. Stephen drew attention to the fact that even in these difficult times, the British people still give more than £10bn to charitable causes, but also stressed the need for businesses to do more to support local charities and the communities in which they are established. Concluding by expressing his support for the Government's policies to assist charities and community groups, matched by new funding, Stephen thanked all at the CAB for their hard work in helping those in and around Sleaford with a wide variety of issues and indicated just how this vital this work is in the current economic climate.