ON Monday the Probus Club of Malvern was delighted to welcome our constituency MP, Harriett Baldwin, as guest speaker.

Mrs Baldwin outlined her journey from the world of finance to that of politics. After an initial and successful assessment test, she was selected to fight the 2004 election in the Labour stronghold of Stockton-on- Tees North and managed to generate a Tory swing of 3.6 per cent.

She recalled how hard she had to fight to win the 2010 campaign and recalled the nail-biting atmosphere of the count.

Mrs Baldwin spoke in a highly amusing and articulate manner of the steep learning curve and traumas associated with being a newly elected MP, balancing time in the House of Commons, constituency commitments and time with her family.

She has been forced to recognise that the most important men in her life now are the Speaker who determines if and when she can speak in debate and ask PM questions and the Chief Whip who demands her presence at voting: her husband is relegated to third in line!

She highlighted the highly partisan atmosphere in the Commons when she made her maiden speech and the even more rowdy environment when she was drawn to contribute to Prime Minister’s questions.

Her background in finance has been recognised by her election by colleagues to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Work and Pensions.

Finally, she spoke of her work in her constituency, including the staffing and opening of a Malvern office and of her policy of responding personally and by letter to her constituents. Mrs Baldwin left our meeting at 11.30am heading to the House of Commons for the debate on the Budget starting at 2.30pm; a clear demonstration that the work of an MP is highly demanding.

The Probus Club of Malvern meets at 10.30am on the first and third Mondays of each month at the Abbey Hotel. The membership is comprised of retired professional (Pro) and business (bus) men.

Anyone wishing to join us can obtain further details from our registrar, Ramon Wyre (01684 574814).

DAVID PENTER