This has been another massive week in Westminster, with the Windsor Framework passing through Parliament on Wednesday, at the same time as former PM Boris Johnson was in front of the Privileges Committee. What the Windsor Framework showed all of us is that careful negotiation and co-operation with your nearest neighbours is crucial in order to make progress, and I can attest to a sense of relief in the House that it passed with only 29 Members voting against it.
Much more quietly on Wednesday my colleague Natalie Elphicke introduced a Ten Minute Rule Bill which aims to end age discrimination against older workers. I was one of the sponsors of her Bill, which will prevent employers from withdrawing workplace benefits from those who carry on working past retirement age. I can think of plenty of examples of constituents who are really enjoying still working past retirement age, and we should make sure they are treated fairly and supported.
Last week I was at the University of Southampton Science Park to talk to the UK Science Park Association and this week I am back at the University to talk to some brilliant scientists I met at an event in Parliament at the end of last year. There are still big gendered discrepancies in medical research, but interestingly the "bias in bones" is actually in favour of women, which makes a change. So I am off to see them to talk about how important it is men are included in osteoporosis research.
