Page 19 - BR May 2023

May 2023 May 2023

BRIANTSPUDDLE AND AFFPUDDLE NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER

NEWS As always, I am writing this several weeks before
publication – and today the American President is
visiting Northern Ireland, to mark 25 years since the
BRIANTSPUDDLE POST Good Friday Agreement.

OFFICE AND SHOP I was in Belfast just before Easter and recently voted
in favour of the Windsor Framework, which sets out a
new way for the Northern Ireland Protocol to operate.
The Government has been in negotiations with the EU
We held our 2023 AGM on 14 April and the minutes since the protocol came into force in January 2021,
of the meeting are on the Briantspuddle website. and I am pleased that the new framework resolves
Ali Chorley has now stood down from the some of the issues that had arisen. I hope that power-sharing can now be re-
committee due to her other work commitments and the committee members are started, in order to continue the important work of devolution for all the people
now Peter Head, Richard Killer, Chris Miller, Jo Neudegg, Cindy Read and Lesley in Northern Ireland.
Wilcox. We could do with another one or two committee members so if you My visit to Belfast was as part of my work as HM Solicitor General. Although I have
would like to contribute to the oversight of the shop please contact us. “rights of audience” as Solicitor General for England and Wales, I was also
Just a reminder that you can order your newspapers and magazines, collect called to the Northern Irish Bar, along with the Attorney General and
them from the shop and so save yourself a journey. You don’t have to commit to Advocate General for Scotland to show our commitment to every part of
a regular order; we are happy to get them on a ‘one off’ basis. If you have a the United Kingdom. I also spoke to members of the judiciary, as well as
regular order you can either pay by cash or we can invoice you and we also members of the Northern Irish bar, and lawyers from the Crown Solicitor’s
accept newspaper vouchers. You can place your order in the shop. Office who consider some of the most critical legal issues in Government.
As part of the visit I also visited Northern Ireland Alternatives which
We sell meat from Curtis butchers in Wareham. We generally have a stock of considers how to use restorative justice to reduce paramilitary style attacks.
bacon and sausages, pork pies and gala pie slices and also minced beef and This is an important charity that developed into a government accredited
chicken pieces. But we can order any of Curtis’ products for you and you can restorative justice programme that aims to promote and develop non-
collect your order from us. Curtis gives us a small discount which enables us to sell violent community responses to the issues of low-level crime and antisocial
the item to you at the same price you would pay if you went to their shop. So, behaviour.
again, save yourself the petrol!
Closer to home I have been
We have several public holidays in May but the shop will be open every day so out and about across the
come and see us. You will be surprised what stock we have managed to squeeze constituency as usual. I
in to a very small space! Someone recently asked whether we sold tin openers; visited Julia’s House following
the answer was that although we think we are good, we have to draw the line their outstanding CQC rating,
somewhere! But with the camping season coming maybe we should think about and discussed with the chief
getting some tin openers? We are always happy to hear suggestions about new executive the importance of
lines to stock. the support they provide for
local children and families in
We always need more help supporting the shop. If you can spare just a couple of very difficult circumstances.
hours a week to help with some of the many tasks we need to operate please let
us know. You can ring the shop on 01929 472000, e-mail I have also been out chatting
briantspuddle.shop@gmail.com or pop in and see us. It is your shop so please to residents across the
support it. constituency, including
Lesley Wilcox

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