Michael Connarty hosts visiting politicians

Nov 26 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

MICHAEL Connarty MP hosted a delegation of six MPs from around the Commonwealth in his Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency last week.

The politicians were part of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) study group looking at different levels of government.

The MPs, from Barbados, Ghana, Kenya, Hong Kong, Sierra Leone and Uganda had been in Brussels, London and then the Scottish Parliament and wanted to visit a Scottish constituency and Mr Connarty was delighted to show them around.

The Labour MP said: “I have been an active member of the CPA for the past 17 years, mainly speaking to visiting MPs when they are in London.

“In particular I speak about the role of a Select Committee in holding a government to account.

“They were particularly interested in how a UK MP works with councillors and MSPs in his constituency.

“It was good for them to be able to get away from the cities.

“They were here all day and we talked about education, the recession and climate change.

“They were interested in the effects of the recession as many of them don’t have developed economies except in their major cities.

“They are all also very concerned about how climate change is affecting their countries and were asking what we are doing about it in this country.

“We visited Linlithgow Palace and Torphichen Preceptory.

“They were very impressed by the constituency and I think it was a worthwhile visit.

“They could not have picked a better constituency.”