Many in the constituency and in wider West Sussex were growing up as the Allies helped the rebuilding of the politics and the economies of Germany and of territories occupied during the Second World War. That approach might have be beneficial one hundred years ago during the 1920s.
Instead, the destruction of security and the populism and blame accusations by Adolf Hitler, combined with the consequences of the voting system, left the dictator to ruin the lives of his fellow nationals, prospects for other countries around Europe and the wholesale killing of Jews, with other chosen victims.
On Tuesday, before coming to the ministerial statement on building safety, Andrew Mitchell as deputy Foreign Secretary gave an update to the Commons on Israel and Gaza following the United Nations Security Council resolution 2728. Halfway through Ramadan is late in trying to reach agreement on an end to continuing violence, the release of every hostage, getting in all the supplies needed for Palestinians – and I add, an end to the aggressive expansion of settlements on the West Bank.
Listening to views on what members of the Israeli government should now be doing, it is sadly obvious that many colleagues in other parties do not acknowledge the imperative of security for Israelis. Israel needs to be recognised by all its neighbours.
Palestinian life in Gaza would have been better if the resources put into tunnels, reported to be 400 miles in length, had been devoted to improving prospects for people in the restricted Gaza Strip.
The same would apply in different circumstances in the horrors of Haiti where I share concern with the Methodist Minister Leslie Griffiths. He in the Lords and I in the Commons have year by year tried to give our colleagues information about a small country far away where people’s hopes and fears are like ours.
Our hearts react to every disaster, whether through inattention such as the Baltimore bridge collision and collapse or the continuing conflict in South Sudan or the awful attack that left over 100 young people murdered near Moscow.
In the constituency, Christians recognise Holy Week; Muslims are inviting people to share Iftar by the Bandstand this Thursday. I hope to be present. Next month our Jewish community will observe the Passover. Each faith group can be respected. Each can invite others to understand and when appropriate to share.
It has again been a busy parliamentary week. I was the first to raise the Ombudsman’s report and recommendation on the women, the WASPI group, aggrieved by handling of the changes to state pension age. It was 70 in 1090. There were ways to recognise the hurt. They should been taken earlier. Tim Loughton and I had worked together. I am proud of what the two of us have achieved in several fields.
The process at the Arun planning committee was unhappy. Advice from officers could have come at the beginning. Residents are left thinking money, the costs of resisting a possible appeal, was the dominant consideration. That cannot be satisfactory. I worry too about the nibbling away at the south of the Goring Gap.
I want to speak for residents and for visitors who value the remaining green lungs and fields, the natural environment, the places and spaces we love.
Katy Bourne, the Police and Crime Commissioner came to join us on the shingle between Worthing Pier and the Lido, once described as the shortest pier in the country. A young fox came to look at us, quite as bold as the mice at Westminster. Katy responds quickly and effectively when my team and I have to involve her.
What were you doing on Saturday afternoon? The weather was not forecast. We endured the hail and we laughed at the monsoon rain. Longer-term, we have to combine to reduce the predicted adverse change in climate.
