Ellee Seymour

Only 136 out of a possible 646 MPs voted at today’s heated debate to exempt themselves from the Freedom of Information Act. It now passes to the Lords for consideration.

Private Members’ Bills are debated on Fridays when most MPs spend the day in their constituencies.  Surely this demonstrates that urgent matters like this should be heard mid-week.

Five years ago, the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons recommended that they should review Private Members’ Bills, including the possibility of whether they could be transferred to another slot in the week which might be more convenient for MPs.

It’s a shame that so few turned up to debate this important issue. I believe our elected Members should have nothing to hide (unless for reasons of national security), they should work openly and transparently.

John Redwood voted against the exception and succinctly summarises why he felt it was unnecessary. Bravo John.

Iain has the full list of how MPs voted.

I’m spending the day with Julian Sturdy in York, discussing our campaign for his parliamentary seat in York Outer which he will contest as a Conservative candidate. We hope to build on our success from the recent council elections when Conservatives won eight seats.

  Children are precious whatever their age. Image your son goes off on a gap year or an overseas adventure and is never heard of or seen again. That’s what happened 32  years ago when a happy-go-lucky, 19-year-old Lawrence Harvey headed for the stunning Greek island of Mykonos.

He arrived in April 1975 and the following month he phoned his mother saying he wanted to return home by July. He was planning to hitch-hike through Yugoslavia on his way back.

At some point, Lawrence’s mother arranged to send him money via Athens. He made a transfer call before he reached Athens, but this was the last his mother heard from him. On 17th June 1975, Lawrence crossed the border at Evzoni into Yugoslavia. He has not been seen or heard of since.

How does a helpless parent become involved in a police search in these circumstances, so far away with a different language and culture? It is a massive undertaking. I have no idea if there was widespread publicity at the time of Lawrence’s disappearance, I could not find any during my internet search.

Lawrence was described as a popular person with a happy nature and had a steady girlfriend. An age progressed image of Lawrence has recently been produced showing how he may look now aged 51.

In memory of those who are still missing.