Shailesh Vara MP has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, following the announcement of her passing in Balmoral at the age of 96.

Speaking after the announcement, Mr Vara said:-

“Queen Elizabeth II dedicated her life to the service of her people and country. She was not born expecting to inherit the throne, but when duty called in 1952 she rose to the challenge. Over her seven decades as our Queen, she has provided a reassuring stability, not just to our country, but also to the Commonwealth and the wider world.

“As the longest reigning monarch in British history, and the second in world history, the Queen has led the United Kingdom through profound periods of change. At the age of twenty one, she solemnly pledged to spend her life in service to the Crown and Commonwealth, a pledge she faithfully kept.

“I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family, who have lost a mother, a grandmother, and a great grandmother. I would also like to pay tribute to the achievements of an extraordinary woman who, above all else, exemplified the principles of duty and public service. We have lost our Queen, but we will continue to treasure her memory and we will forever recall the achievements, sacrifice, and love which she showed for all her peoples, her country, and everyone she met around the world.

“On a personal note, I was fortunate to meet Her Majesty on several occasions. I will treasure my last meeting with her at Windsor Castle in July of this year, when I was sworn into the Privy Council and received from her the Seals of Office for Northern Ireland.

“I wish Her Majesty’s family well, in particular the Prince of Wales, who must now assume his mother’s responsibilities, and to whom I say, God save the King.”

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Shailesh Vara calls on the new PM to confirm to the EU that the UK’s preferred option in respect of the Northern Ireland protocol is a negotiated settlement, but that if such a settlement is not forthcoming, we will proceed with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.

Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire) (Con)

It is standard practice in the European Union that when it cannot get its own way in negotiations with the UK, it plays for time and waits for a new leader who it hopes will take a different view from his or her predecessor. For the sake of clarity, will my right hon. Friend confirm that the UK’s preferred option in respect of the Northern Ireland protocol is a negotiated settlement, but that if such a settlement is not forthcoming, we will proceed with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill which is currently going through Parliament?

The Prime Minister (Elizabeth Truss)

Let me first thank my right hon. Friend for his service as Northern Ireland Secretary. He is absolutely right: we need to resolve the issue of the Northern Ireland protocol. My preference is for a negotiated solution, but it does have to deliver all the things that we set out in the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill. What we cannot allow is for this situation to drift, because my No. 1 priority is protecting the supremacy of the Belfast/Good Friday agreement.

Hansard

Shailesh Vara MP has visited R B Organic based in Yaxley in his constituency. The company is the UK’s largest processor and supplier of organic vegetables, and is a division of Burgess Farms and Produce World.

Mr Vara was joined by Huntingdonshire District Councillors Eric Butler and Kevin Gulson, and they met with Chairman and co-owner of the company William Burgess, and CEO James Barker. A number of issues were discussed, including the increased cost of electricity and the impact of inflation on the company.

Mr Burgess also spoke of the dedication and commitment of his staff, who continued to work throughout the pandemic, ensuring that food continued to reach shops and supermarkets despite the difficult circumstances.

Mr Burgess also mentioned that the additional costs incurred by the company during the pandemic had not been passed onto the consumer.

Following the visit Mr Vara said:

“It was good to visit R B Organic again and discuss the company’s operation since the start of the pandemic.

“I commend everyone at the company who, despite the dangers of the pandemic, turned up to work to ensure that food reached the nation’s dinner tables.

“As with other businesses, R B Organic is having to deal with the challenges of energy price rises and trying to keep prices low while the cost of living rises.

“I look forward to the company continuing to play a critical role in the supply of food throughout the country.”

Mr Burgess commented:

“It was good to see Shailesh again, and have an opportunity to tell him of the fantastic work done by staff in the recent difficult times.

“I was also very pleased to be able to explain to him some of the difficulties and challenges we are facing as a business in a competitive market. As well as trying to deal with inflation, there is a constant challenge in keeping prices low, despite our increasing costs.

“These are difficult times for the country but we will continue to do our very best to produce good quality fresh food.”

Photo: Cllr Kevin Gulson, Cllr Eric Butler, CEO James Barker, Chairman and co-owner William Burgess, and Shailesh Vara MP.

Shailesh Vara MP visited Rainwater Harvesting Ltd in Orton Southgate, Peterborough and met with Director Jae Lester and Business Partner Rob Cooper together with Engineering Manager, Richard Lester.

Mr Vara was shown a display model of the technology which is designed for rainwater collection and storage in homes.

Rainwater Harvesting Ltd, established in 2008, designs, manufactures and supplies rainwater harvesting equipment. The process involves using rainwater from the roof, which is then stored in underground tanks and used for, amongst other things, irrigating gardens, washing cars and flushing toilets.

The system can also help to prevent both localised and downstream flooding. The company is the leading supplier to the domestic rainwater harvesting market, helping to relieve stress on mains supply for a sustainable future.

Following the visit Mr Vara said:

“I was very pleased to visit Rainwater Harvesting and learn about their technology. The company aims to reduce the need for potable water, and thereby conserve natural water resources. The company’s technology is certainly very interesting and I was impressed with its benefit to householders, both financially and ecologically.”

Mrs Lester commented:

“We were delighted to discuss with Mr Vara the valuable contribution that rainwater harvesting makes to society’s increasing demands for water and the related issues regarding water supply for homeowners. 

“It was good to highlight the benefits of utilising a Rainwater Harvesting System by using our demonstration model, showing how the system works, not only for toilets, washing machines and outside use, but also how it helps to prevent flooding.”

Photo: Jae Lester, Shailesh Vara MP and Richard Lester.

Shailesh Vara MP visited Ferrar House and St John’s Church in Little Gidding, Huntingdonshire, following recent renovation works.

Mr Vara, who is a member of Ferrar House’s Advisory Council, was welcomed by the Very Revd Dr Philip Buckler, the Chair of The Trustees of Little Gidding, and he also met fellow trustees and members of the Advisory Council.

Whilst Ferrar House was closed during the covid-19 pandemic, renovations were carried out to its rooms and underfloor heating was installed. Mr Vara saw first-hand all the improvements to the House and the church, set in their beautiful rural surroundings.

Ferrar House has been a place of pilgrimage since 1625 when Nicholas Ferrar established it as a “Household of Faith,” providing a place of peace for people of all faiths and none. When Nicolas Ferrar purchased the Manor of Little Gidding, he found that St John’s Church was being used as a barn and the house was in desperate need of repair. Renovations and a rebuild ensued. On his death in 1637, Nicholas Ferrar was buried in a table tomb in front of the entrance to the church.

Ferrar House has received many prominent visitors in the past, including poets George Herbert and T.S. Eliot, and in 1642 King Charles I sought refuge at the House.

Following the visit Mr Vara said:

“I was very pleased to see the Very Revd Dr Philip Buckler and his colleagues again, as well as Ferrar House and St John’s Church, following the recent renovations work. I was particularly pleased to see inside the church, a place where visitors can enjoy its peace and beauty as well as its history.

Ferrar House is a special place for those seeking reflection and tranquillity, where people have the opportunity to enjoy a quiet retreat.”

The Very Revd Dr Philip Buckler commented:

”We are very pleased to welcome Mr Shailesh Vara MP and other members of our advisory Council to view the recent improvements to Ferrar House and the Church at Little Gidding. This has been a place of pilgrimage for many since 1625 when Nicholas Ferrar established an ‘Household of Faith’ here. The poet George Herbert, King Charles 1, and more recently the poet T.S.Eliot all have links with this place – the latter naming one of his Four Quartets after Little Gidding and describing it as a place ‘where prayer has been valid’. The Trust seeks to encourage those of all faiths and none to visit and experience what many have found to be a place of special holiness and peace.”

Photos: Shailesh Vara MP with Trustees and Advisory Council in front of Ferrar House.

Shailesh Vara MP with Trustees and Advisory Council in front of the church and behind Nicholas Ferrar’s table tomb.

Shailesh Vara MP today met with Professor Ross Renton, Principal of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), Peterborough.

ARU Peterborough is currently under construction on the Embankment, close to the City Centre and it is aiming to open its doors to students later this year in September.

Mr Vara and Professor Renton discussed a variety of issues, including progress of the construction works, funding and working with local businesses and the community.

The campus has been developed in partnership with Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Peterborough City Council and Anglia Ruskin University. The University will offer state-of-the-art facilities to local students, as well as bringing significant investment to the area. The University will also offer online courses and company based learning through local outreach centres.

Following the visit Mr Vara said:

“I had a very good meeting with Professor Renton during which we discussed a number of issues. The University will provide the students with a number of educational pathways and it has huge potential for the future.

“It will be playing a crucial role in the future of Peterborough and our regional and I look forward to continuing to work with Professor Renton as we move forward.”

Professor Renton added:

“It was a pleasure to meet Mr Vara and have the opportunity to discuss the range of employment-focused courses we are co-creating with over 170 local employers to enable students to access rewarding high-skilled jobs across the region, including in Mr Vara’s North West Cambridgeshire constituency. 

“We also talked about the significant opportunities ARU Peterborough has to collaborate with businesses and other organisations by developing research and innovation links between the university and industry.

“I was delighted to be able to talk with him about the fabulous new facilities that are taking shape, which will have a transformative impact on both the city and the region. I was also able to share with him that our builders, Bowker and Kirkland, are confident the building work is on track for opening, including a series of events over the summer”

Photo: Professor Renton and Shailesh Vara MP.