Newspaper column 3 March 2022 - Ukraine and my work over the past week

 

I cannot start this week’s column without commenting on the events unfolding in the Ukraine over the past week. 

Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine is a completely unacceptable open act of war. I welcome the Prime Minister's strong condemnation of these actions and further sanctions on Russia announced on the day of the invasion.

There can be no doubt that Putin’s Russia is now a pariah state with few friends. The West and the wider international community are united in its condemnation of this invasion. These severe sanctions mean that it will pay a heavy price economically in the years to come for this reckless action.

My thoughts are with the Ukrainian people who are facing dangers and terror at the hands of a bullying neighbour who only wants to subjugate a people who have chosen democracy over tyranny.

The UK is Ukraine’s friend and we will not turn our back in her hour of need. We will support her and we will not let Russian aggression go unpunished.

Away from Parliament last week I was delighted to welcome two Cabinet Ministers to our constituency.

On Thursday Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy visited the Geothermal works at United Downs.

We had a really positive conversation about the future of renewable, green and clean energy and what this could mean for Cornwall. I also raised with the Secretary of State the rising energy prices and the effect this is having on those in Cornwall.

There is huge potential for clean, green energy in Cornwall and we need to accelerate the growth in this industry, but we also need to be tackling the rising cost of living.

On Friday I welcomed COP26 President Alok Sharma to Falmouth.

We gave Alok a presentation on nature recovery, Levelling Up for Cornwall, and the Cornwall City of Culture bid for 2025.

We also took him out on the docks to talk about floating offshore wind off the Cornish coast in the Celtic Sea, and the opportunities this presents Falmouth with.

The theme throughout the visit was climate change and what we are doing in Cornwall to address it.

Cornwall has a key role to play in this important work. When Cornwall hosted the G7 Leaders Summit in 2021 the Prime Minister backed plans to make Cornwall the first net zero region of the UK. He aims to create a long-term legacy from the G7 Summit, and with its miles of coastline, rolling rural vistas, past history as an industrial powerhouse, and most importantly the creative energy to make this happen, Cornwall is ideally placed to realise these ambitions.

The Government’s Net Zero Strategy, published just last year, will create 440,000 jobs by 2030 and bring in £90bn of investment to the UK.

In Cornwall, that means leading the way in investment in renewable energies, unlocking the geothermal power that is literally embedded in its foundations, and floating offshore wind, pioneering the extraction of lithium to use in new greener technologies, and investing in the subsequent well paid, high skilled jobs these sectors will bring. Cornwall is also a national leader on Nature Recovery, piloting innovative schemes to help restore and enhance the natural environment in the county.

As MP for Truro and Falmouth, I will continue to work with and champion the emerging Cornish Green Industrial revolution, ensuring everything is done to harness the blue and green landscape on this journey and making sure that Cornwall’s voice is heard at the heart of Government to realise this potential, both for Cornwall itself and also as a blueprint for green growth across the country.   

As ever, if you need my assistance with anything then my team and I are here to help. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.