"I have just returned from the ceremony and flag raising at Castle Point Borough Council. Armed Forces Day, and all the events this week, are a time when we celebrate the vital role and contribution of the forces, both currently and in the past.  But for me, they are also an opportunity to concentrate on the real issues facing our military, as we manage the aftermath of Iraq and the ongoing attrition in Afghanistan, which looks like it may get even worse.

My late father did his National Service in the RAF.  My father in law did his in the Army, patrolling the border in County Fermanagh.  The most dangerous thing about that, he says, is that the vehicles were camouflaged for Suez!

Both my father and father-in-law would laugh if I described them as "veterans", but they both played their part.  They would not compare themselves to the people they saw returning, and the many who did not, from Normandy, or Korea. 

Today, our most important challenge is to give a future to the young men and women who've returned from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Some will have horrendous physical injuries and will need support of some sort for the rest of their lives.  Others - some hard men as well - will be traumatised by the memories of bayonet fights in Helmand. 

Are we aware of the scale of the problem we have got?  Are we prepared for it?  What more can we do?

This week, I will attend many Armed Forces Day events, and probably even allow myself a little nostalgia.  But I won't lose sight of these questions"

“A lot of people ask me what effect being a Parliamentary candidate has on our family life. Well it is hard work and of course unlike MPs, candidates don't get staff or - Heaven forbid - expense accounts!

"I've watching the news on Iran this week with a mixture of worry and hope.

I visited Iran about 10 years ago with my husband.  It is a beautiful country with a strong culture, much of which pre-dates Islam.  The people have an old-fashioned hospitality.  All the Iranians we met wanted good relations with the West.

But Ahmadinejad is a rogue leader.  He does not represent the future of Iran, and he embarasses many of his country men.  But the West needs to be careful.  We learnt that Iranians have a fierce national pride.   It runs deep.  We must not humiliate Iran, as this could back-fire and boost Ahmadinejad's support.

We should find hope in the fact that hundreds of thousands turned up on the streets of Tehran to show their opposition to him.  They are Iran's future"

"I appreciate that these are difficult times for pubs across the Country, largely thanks to Labour's stealth taxes on a pint, but as a Hadleigh resident, I do not think a drive through fast food business will do anything but harm the Town Centre”

After several weeks out campaigning, and hearing the relentless stories about MPs' expenses and the crisis in Labour's leadership, it's been a relief to think about something other than politics today.

Around this time of year, we often go to France.  My husband likes us to take the ferry to Caen, so we can look at the D-Day beaches.  We've spent hours over the years looking at the Museums and memorials.  I love the beauty of the war cemetaries, although I find it heartbreaking to consider the individuals who lost their lives.

This Saturday, as we mark the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings, it's surely right to put politics aside for once, and instead remember those who fought for us in Normandy, and those who planned and took part in this most complex, massive, risky, but ultimately successful operation.

These brave men fought and died for our way of life and our democracy; we owe it to them never to forget that. We owe it to ourselves, and the next generation, to sort out Westminster politics, the economy and our broken society.
 

"Handing out leaflets and newspapers to commuters returning home to Benleet Station gave me a great opportunity to chat with residents that I have missed during my canvassing upon the doorsteps of Canvey Island over the last few weeks. Along with my County Council colleague Colin Riley we received many good luck wishes for Thursday"

“It is testament to the hard work of our candidates that despite the current instability within British politics the electorate has endorsed both our manifesto and confirmed another term of Conservative rule at County Hall”