With my Positive Politics! and It Starts Here! campaigns, I pledged to champion a new mode of grassroots politics, acting as Mid Norfolk’s MP in Westminster, not the other way round.

I also set out a vision of what I called a ‘Rural Renaissance’: advocating a new vision for rural planning and the local economy through my The Norfolk Way project, showing that, with small businesses and smaller pockets of housing in villages and towns, it IS possible to build new houses AND maintain our heritage, making our area a vibrant hub of enterprise and opportunity.

That’s why I was honoured to win the Grassroot Diplomat Award at a ceremony in London last night, awarded for work I have done with The Norfolk Way. The Business Driver category was a tough one, with fellow MPs Diane Abbott, Liz Truss, Richard Graham, Andrew Griffiths and Chris Williamson also nominated, and it was a privilege to be chosen by the judges.

I am delighted to report that The Norfolk Way goes from strength to strength. We are continuing the great work honoured last night with the first ever Norfolk Innovation Awards 2015 on Thursday 19th March at 6.30pm at Wymondham High Academy, championing the world-leading science in our region with the Norwich Research Park and our proximity to the Cambridge Cluster.

I was also delighted to announce recently the new round of The Norfolk Way Rural Enterprise Bursaries, meeting the students that have been selected for this year’s Bursary Scheme at Wayland Academy. This scheme is about encouraging our youngsters to aspire to take their opportunities. Through NWES, they will be given some great work experience placements.

As we head into the General Election, I believe we have made great progress towards that vision of a ‘Rural Renaissance’, with £60m funding for fast broadband, the A11 dualled and funding for the A47 to be dualled, as well as continuing the campaigns for the Nor-Cam rail link and Norwich in 90, helping put in place the transport links to help the local economy and entrepreneurs, creating jobs and opportunities in our area.

As someone who spent fifteen years working in small business in East Anglia before coming to Parliament, I am passionate about building on the success already achieved and making sure we have the fast digital, road and rail links we need to become a hub of enterprise and opportunity.

With our area for too long condemned by some in Whitehall as a ‘rural backwater’, last night showed the great things that can be achieved by following the Norfolk Way!