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June 2020 June 2020

This was all going swimmingly as they say but what would we do for the long
NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER - VIRTUALLY winter months? Step forward Sergeant Martin Ord from the Junior Leader
Regiment at Bovington Camp. I had known Martin for a few years as I had

Last month I mentioned that Parliament was about brought my Bridport Water Polo team to Bovington to help him with the training
to become a partially virtual Parliament, with much of his Junior Leader Team which went on to win the national Junior Leader
of the proceedings online. That process has now Championships. As a favour Martin offered me the use of the Junior Leader Pool
started, and we have a hybrid system. In order for for a number of years. Trouble was that no one in authority knew we were there
these changes to be implemented, the House of every Saturday afternoon until one day the RSM turned up unannounced. From
Commons returned after Easter and formally then on we had to pay for the pool hire but at least we were officially on the
approved using remote technology for some books! You just wouldn’t think of doing that today!
Parliamentary business, including Urgent Questions, I am delighted to say that the club to this day still maintains its core value which is
and questioning of ministers, including Prime to teach children to swim. We are one of only a very few clubs left in the whole
Ministers’ Questions. country with a ‘learn to swim’ ethos and I hope this will never change. It is
Up to 50 MPs can be physically present in the wonderful seeing a child takes its first unaided strokes. It is still the only sport which
Chamber of the House – maintaining social distancing – or be remote, via Zoom. has the potential to save lives. Socially it is a great asset and a wonderful skill to
The Mace has to be on the table for Parliament to be allowed to sit, so it is still learn.
used, and the Speaker or Deputy Speaker sits in his (or her) chair as usual. Due to Over the years we have
hard work behind the scenes, you can still watch what is happening online, or on taught not only swimming
the Parliament channel. I have been physically present in the House for some of but mini water polo, diving,
the sittings, but like most MPs I have also been working from home. I was also synchronised swimming
part of the and a little life-saving. We
vital testing for
have taken part in many
getting virtual
friendly galas with other
B i l l
Dorset clubs. We are never
Committees
going to beat the more
u p a n d
competitive clubs but our
running – this is
children have great fun in
where MPs
tr yi n g . Al s o , gr e at
can scrutinise
friendships have been
legislation line forged through the swimming club, some that have lasted a lifetime.
by line before
they are Of course over 44 years we have had the support of our brilliant swimming
made into teachers and committee members. These have come mostly from our parents
law. who have shown great commitment to the club. In recent years we have
developed our club helpers who have come from the ranks of our senior
We are now swimmers. This has been hugely successful, not only helpful to our teachers on
also able to vote remotely, following careful and rigorous testing. It is important poolside, but also developing our young people for the future. We like to feel
that only elected MPs vote on the laws which govern this country, and the that we have something special in our club. With our current chairman Alan
National Cyber Security Centre have been consulted to make sure this is the White and his committee (I am still a member), we will I am sure continue to
case. We are expecting our first official vote this evening – so far testing has
been limited to questions like “This House believes that spring is better than provide excellent swimming teaching in a happy and safe environment.
autumn”. When this current crisis is over we will be back at the Purbeck Pool in Wareham
on Saturday evenings. We can’t wait!
Of course, like the rest of the country, the virtual sittings of Parliament are not
without their technical glitches. Connection issues and slow broadband are Bob Holman

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