It's very easy at a time like this to slip into a Private Fraser-style despondency. "Ye're all doomed," as he used to say. Yet the reality of everyday living - at least by comparison with so many parts of the world – is that we are really extraordinarily lucky. Economic life – at least in this area, and with a fair degree of touching wood going on – is still remarkably fine. The problems are those associated with prosperity rather than poverty. There are, for example, current planning controversies, with pressure for more and more new houses, business parks and supermarkets. In a sort of way, that's a nice problem to have – symptoms of prosperity rather than depression.
My regular visits to our local public services fill me with a great deal of hope. On Friday, for example, I was with the Fire Chief in Worton near Devizes. There are problems, of course, and he has some imaginative new plans to announce to deal with at least some of them. But the fact behind all of that is that we have first class cover against fires, and help in case of emergency, of which citizens of even quite civilised other parts of the world would be very envious.
I went on from there for a meeting with the new Chief Executive of the Great Western Hospital. There are problems to deal with (aren't there always?) The new car parking system, for example has had a few teething problems. But is that not again a symptom of success and prosperity? Our hospitals – there, in Chippenham and in Bath – are all first class, while so many places round the world have no free public health service to talk of. Andrew Lansley's reform package sparks off controversy – but whatever the end result, let us never forget that we have the finest health provision in the world.
Our schools are second to none. Well done to Malmesbury for coming top of the Wiltshire league tables published last week, just pipping Royal Wootton Bassett to the post, and with John Bentley Sheldon, Hardenhuish, Corsham, Braden Forest and Abbeyfield (good to see the sixth formers in Parliament this week) all pretty well up there too. Most children in large parts of the world receive no education at all. Let us rejoice in our excellent local institutions, teachers – and results which are amongst the best in the land.
I have been vocal in recent weeks attacking the Government's defence cuts, and spent 5 years of my life worrying about the future of RAF Lyneham. It's not what we would like it to be; but our Royal Navy, Army and RAF are still amongst the finest anywhere – as IX Supply regiment from Buckley Barracks in Hullavington demonstrated when they received the freedom of Chippenham last week.
So at a time when our news screens are packed with wars, collapse, corruption, instability and poverty around the world, let us be glad that our government and political institutions are – believe it or not - the finest anywhere. Parliament, Whitehall, and every level of local government by and large deliver high quality services at an affordable cost, and overall reflect the will of the people.
There's always so much more to be done. But from time to time is it not healthy to pause for a moment and just be glad about so much that is great and good about our British way of life. We have a great deal to be thankful for.
North Wiltshire MP, James Gray has joined with 105 other MPs from the four largest political parties represented in the House of Commons and written to the Prime Minister urging a reduction in the amount of subsidy given to onshore wind.
