MPs GIVE PUBLIC BACKING TO STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT

Staffordshire’s Members of Parliament have demonstrated their backing for the Staffordshire Regiment during this, its second tour of duty in Iraq, by putting their names to an Early Day Motion. Stafford’s Labour MP David Kidney explains how this public expression of support came about:

“Each year, the MPs from our region meet with representatives of the Staffordshire Regiment to make sure that we keep strong links between us. I was speaking to the Regimental Secretary, Jim Massey, and he said how very much members of the Regiment appreciated receiving messages of support from back home while they are in Iraq, very much a place of danger.

“I spoke to my colleague Janet Dean and we decided to canvass support amongst our Parliamentary colleagues, cross party, for a joint declaration of our support for our brave soldiers. We came up with the idea of an Early Day Motion, which is a means of expressing an opinion on a subject and attracting the support of other MPs.

“We have now tabled Early Day Motion number 1226 of this Parliamentary Session, signed by Joan Walley, Janet Dean, Michael Fabricant, Charlotte Atkins, Brian Jenkins, Sir Patrick Cormack and myself. The Motion is now open for other MPs to sign and we shall be actively encouraging MPs from all around the West Midlands region to sign it.

“In the days of the old County boundaries, many Black Country communities contributed to recruitment to the Regiment (and they still do today). Places like Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton have strong ties with the Regiment and the MPs representing constituencies there remain good supporters.

“In the words of the Early Day Motion, I wish all the soldiers currently on duty in Iraq a safe return home.”