Village Voice February/March 2013 | Page 17

FROM STEVE BRINE MP One of the (many) great things about being a Member of Parliament – especially one in Government - is the ability to influence the debate and play even a small part in the direction our country will travel in years to come. For me, I love the day-to-day work done on behalf of constituents through my casework – nearly all of it rightly unreported due to its confidential nature – but I have also picked up some key areas to champion when I am in Westminster. In recent weeks I have been fortunate to visit No.10 and No.11 in a certain well-known London street. A group of colleagues and I met with the Chancellor first to present a new policy pamphlet we have produced. We are generally, but not exclusively, newlyelected Conservative MPs who want to think long-term about where Great Britain can prosper in the future. The work focuses on better (i.e. more accountable) Government, an entrepreneurial and competitive economy, an opportunity society and making the green economy the mainstream economy. I have worked, alongside others, on the green economy section and think it presents an ambitious picture for what a decarbonised economy could deliver, not take away, from this country. If you are interested to read more about this 2020 Vision, you can find it via www.stevebrine.com/2020vision. Regular readers of this column may know that I co-chair the