POLITICS
Interview with Huw Merriman MP Over half term, I had the opportunity to interview Huw Merriman, the Conservative MP for Bexhill & Battle about many issues including the role of young people in politics, the Afghanistan crisis and his plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say: I read that you had a very successful career in law before becoming a politician so can I start by asking what made you get into politics in the first place? I decided I wanted to go into politics when I was 16. I’ve actually done everything I set out to do and I look back now and think that’s incredibly sad because life should be a bit more sporadic than that, but there are lots of similarities between the two, so I was interpreting legislation as a lawyer, now I’m writing and scrutinising it. You don’t need to be a lawyer to become an MP. In fact, there are far too many from that sector in politics. I also come from quite a political family – they’re all more on the left of politics and firmly believe that change needs to happen to look after the most vulnerable. You’re probably thinking ‘Well hang on, you’re a Conservative, where did it all go wrong?’ In my case, the ends (to look after the most vulnerable), I share very much with my parents but as for the means to get there, I strongly disagree. I believe that it’s better to give people the tools and empower them to create good for themselves and society.
Questions for half an hour on a Wednesday. Most of the time, the debates are thoughtful and collaborative; we all come together to discuss common causes. Whenever I walk across parliament, I always see MPs from different parties and have a good chat with them. This morning, we were actually discussing the local problem of sewage being discharged into the sea and waterways and what we can do to make the government see sense and make it better, so constituency matters are also discussed in parliament, not just the constituency office. I understand that you've been the chair of the Transport Select Committee since July 2020, so what is a select committee and what powers does it give you as the chair?
Select committees follow government departments and scrutinise their performance. For Transport, we look at the Department for Transport, the Transport Ministers, So were there any political role models you had other the DVLA and other transport agencies. We make sure than your family who inspired you? they’re performing well and make recommendations for I actually regarded myself as a bit of a socialist growing change if they aren’t. We also push new transport innoup as you tend to follow your parents’ views at first, so I vations. At the moment, there is a commitment to roll out liked Tony Benn, a Labour MP who would always do more electric vehicles to reduce diesel and petrol engines what was right for his constituents, even if they favoured by 2030 but there aren’t enough electric charge points a different party and people really valued his independand there would be a fall in fuel duty tax revenue, so ence as a result. I always admired (and was lucky enough what would pay for our roads? The committee has come to sit alongside) Ken Clarke who was never afraid to say up with a report making recommendations for electric what he felt was right – he had a great sense of humour vehicles to be cheaper and more accessible. All of this too. I would also say John Major, who made it to PM helps towards our target of net zero which is important as despite never going to university and having worked his the transport sector is one of the biggest contributors. way up. He was a role model to show the country that Ultimately, select committees are a powerful means to you can reach the top, no matter how humble your begin- hold the government and Whitehall to account and to nings. deliver better policy. The public don't always get to see what goes on in parlia- Do you think it's important that young people take an ment except for snippets on TV from the House of Com- interest in politics and how do you think they can get inmons, so what is life really like as an MP and what does volved? that involve? It’s more important for young people than anyone and It’s very different to how people perceive it which is a they should be more engaged in the political process as shame as most people think of parliament as rowing with the decisions the government make today will affect their each other across the chamber during Prime Minister’s future because they have more years implicated.
