Shailesh Vara MP was pleased to welcome Lt Col Alex Mayes, along with a number of his colleagues from the 42 Engineer Regiment from RAF Wyton.

The group had a tour of the Houses of Parliament which was followed by a meeting and discussion with Mr Vara in Westminster Hall, which dates back over 1000 years.

The meeting covered a variety of issues, including the role of MPs, their accountability to the electorate, the processes of Parliament, and how decisions concerning the military are taken.

The war in Ukraine was also discussed, as well as the potential impact that the domestic politics of other nations could have on British defence strategy and on NATO.

The discussion also covered the rise of fake news and its possible impact on the outcomes of general elections and politics generally.

Following the meeting, Mr Vara said:

“It is always a pleasure to welcome constituents to Parliament. I was very pleased to meet Lt Col Mayes and his colleagues and have a very good and informative discussion with them.

“Our military are on the front line ensuring the safety of our nation, and I am grateful for their insight into a number of issues, especially those pertaining to the military, from a RAF perspective.”

Lt Col Mayes added:

“We had a fantastic visit to Parliament, and we were very pleased to meet our local MP, Shailesh Vara. It was good to be able to put our questions to him and hear how political decisions are made at the highest levels of government, along with the role played by civil servants and outside experts.

“It was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the processes which shape our lives each and every day.”

Photo: Shailesh Vara MP (front row, second from left)  and Lt Col Mayes (front row, third from left), with members of the 42 Engineer Regiment.