Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Commons statement on the creation of the Office for Budget Responsibility, George Freeman highlights today's revelation of the extent of the structural deficit and the effect it will have on growth and enterprise.

George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): Does my right hon. Friend agree that the real significance of today's independent report is the revelation of the extent of the structural deficit, with debt interest alone forecast to rise to £67 billion, strangling growth and enterprise, and at the same time destroying new Labour's core claim to be the party of economic competence?

Mr Osborne: My hon. Friend is right- [ Interruption. ] I see one of the leadership contenders barracking from the Opposition Benches. I do not know whether the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband) wrote the speech for the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown) in which he told the Labour party conference in 1996:



That is one area in which I agree with the former Prime Minister.

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George was a guest on the BBC Politics Show (East) on Sunday. He discussed the coalition plans for a ‘Home on the Farm’ scheme, rural broadband provision and GM crops. Click on the link (about 42:50 minutes in.)

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During the election George ran on a campaign of ‘It Starts Here’, highlighting the importance of localism and how small businesses, community groups and citizens can make a difference.

The campaign struck a chord with many local groups, and businesses are still proudly displaying the ‘It Starts Here’ logo.

Since the election on May 6th the MPs of Norfolk have been meeting regularly. They are working together on an agenda to tackle the problems that the county has.

Speaking about the meetings, George said:
“Many of the issues our constituencies face don’t just fall into one electoral boundary. We need to be proactive and work together to tackle problems like broadband and infrastructure in our area together. Working together will allow us to pool ideas and get the best for Norfolk.”

On Saturday 22nd George was in Dereham for the launch of the Dereham Festival.

Pictured in the market square with the Morris Dancers, (photo courtesy of his son Frank, 7) George said:

"The Dereham Festival is a wonderful 10 day festival of activities in and around the town with fun packed events for all the family, from magicians to Jazz picnics, book readings, ceilidh, organ recitals,
quizes and much much more.

"It showcases so much of the best of Dereham - come and see for yourself over the next week."

For details visit www.derehamfestival.org.uk

Photo: George supports Dereham Festival.

On Wednesday evening George took the oath of allegiance, allowing him to legally participate in votes and debates in the Commons.

The swearing in of Members is the second piece of business for the new Parliament, after the election of a speaker. Members of Parliament can choose to take the Oath or make an Affirmation, those preferring the former hold their choice of religious text in their right hand and say the following passage:



Photo: George Freeman takes the oath of allegiance in the House of Commons

The first Saturday after the election (Sat 15th) George wasted no time getting out to support the 'Our Wymondham' Campaigners petitioning against the risk of urban sprawl development to the North of the town ruining the market town's character.

"We need sustainable and properly planned local development - jobs and homes and community facilities for the long term - NOT mass house dumping forced on our communities and councils by a Planning system driven by Whitehall Targets.

Pictured here with Our Wymondham campaigners and Cllr Martin Wynne, George said:

"Our local councilors are doing a great job fighting for Wymondham, but we need to help them with a reformed Planning System that gives the power back to local communities and the councils they elect, instead of Labour's Development Quangoes which dont undertand or listen to Norfolk.

"I campaigned on this and related issues to do with the way we develop Norfolk, championed through my project The Norfolk Way, and I look forward to working in Parliament and with our local councils to get the right development for our area.

For more information on George's campaigns, work in Parliament or The Norfolk Way please contact george@thenorfolkway.co.uk

http://www.visionourwymondham.co.uk/

Photo: George supports the 'Our Wymondham' campaigners at Wymondham Farmers Market

Read George's acceptance speech to the voters of Mid Norfolk on his election to Parliament.

Thank you Mr. Returning Officer, all your team here tonight, the Police and all those who have manned polling booths and worked behind the scenes to administer this election, for doing it on the night instead of tomorrow morning, and in such an exemplary and efficient way, on a night when there have been so many problems elsewhere.

It is an immense privilege to have been elected by the people of Mid Norfolk to represent them in Parliament and I want to thank all those who have placed their trust in me. I pledge now tonight to work hard for all the people of this constituency, regardless of their affiliation.

I would like to congratulate and thank the other Candidates for making this a clean positive campaign on the issues. We have all of us fought in a campaign at a time of deep disillusionment with politics and everyone who has taken part – in however small a way – can go home tonight proud of having done their bit.

My campaign has been about trying to rebuild some trust in politics through a deep commitment to Norfolk and the challenges and opportunities we face. We won by taking no vote for granted, knocking on over 20,000 doors with my team, and being out and about and accessible as humanly possible. There are no shortcuts to rebuilding trust in politics.

This is not the time to even begin to thank all those many people who have helped me here. Many of you are here tonight. You know who you are. My local Conservative Association, Chairman and Agent for selecting and supporting me, and a team of friends and local volunteers. I have had more support than I could ever have asked for, and I am sincerely grateful and aware of the trust you have placed in me.

There is one person who I can never thank enough: my wife Eleanor – who has held the family together over the last 6 years and been my rock. As we all know, partners in politics pay a high price and get little thanks.

Whatever the result, the Parliament which assembles next week - with over 300 new MPs - will be unrecognisable from the last. It needs to be. Whoever wins, the people of Britain have spoken with a clear voice on one thing: a demand for a better politics of integrity, duty and a commitment to people and place before party. Of course we need parties for Government, and I am proud tonight to be elected tonight as one of a new generation of Conservatives under David Cameron’s leadership. But good politics starts locally with hard working constituency MPs. For the new Mid Norfolk constituency It Starts Here.

Across the land tonight, in halls like this, a new generation is being summoned to serve our country in our Parliament. We carry a huge responsibility.

Thank you for placing your trust in us.

On Monday, George did a tour of 9 different Mid Norfolk villages to meet residents and discuss their concerns.

During the day, George visited the following villages with his team of volunteers:

Ashill
Saham Toney
Carbrooke
Shipdham
Suton
Bawdeswell
North Elmham
Beetley
Gressenhall

As part of the tour, George attended the annual Drynkkings Festival on the village green in Shipdham, where he ended up in the stocks for the second time during the election campaign!

George said: "I was delighted to do my bit to help raise some money for the Shipdham Toddlers Group, having stopped off on my 9 village tour at Shipdham's fete."

George recently spent the day visiting several charities and action groups in Dereham.

The day started at Dereham Cancer Care, an organisation run by volunteers from a portacabin that offers support and information to cancer patients and their families. Many of the volunteers have suffered from cancer themselves, and they also offer alternative therapies such as aromatherapy.

George then went to Mencap the charity focused on providing information and services to people with learning disabilities, where George spoke to a group of about 30 people who were concerned about the closure of day centres in Norfolk. George has since signed up to the Mencap election pledge.

Meeting Point - a centre for over-55s was next, before finally finishing by singing songs with the folks at the Tony Boothman Day Care Centre.

George said afterwards "These are real examples of the strong society we have around us. Inspiring causes, being tackled by inspiring people. I'm extremely grateful to all of the organisations for accommodating me and letting me learn a little bit about the challenges they face. The day centres are the heart of the community for many of our older residents, and I'm sorry I was a little behind schedule for the people at Meeting Point."

Photo: George visits Dereham Cancer Care.