Public meetings such a good idea

This column appears in the Cardiff Post today.

During the ten years I've been an MP, I've held many public meetings. They are one of the best ways of finding out what is on people's minds, providing a forum for their views.

Last week, for example, I held a public meeting on the renewal of Trident. As you may be aware, in December of last year, Tony Blair laid out plans to build a new generation of submarines for Trident missiles over the next 17 years, although the plans also include cutting the number of warheads by 20% and the number of submarines from four to three. The House of Commons is due to vote on this issue next month.

As someone who was there when the women set off from Cardiff to Greenham Common in 1981 to protest against the presence of nuclear weapons at the RAF base in Berkshire, my instinct is not to vote for Trident renewal. I think it's important, however, to consult with the public and to review this issue again.

I was pleased to see a packed meeting last week — the room was full of a variety of people, from Labour Party members (among whom there are sincere differences of opinion), members of CND and members of the public.

We had a good, emotionally-charged debate, with strong views expressed on both sides. Those for renewal emphasised the uncertain and unpredictable world we now face and the fact that a nuclear deterrent seems to offer a degree of safety. Those against were unconvinced whether Trident would work as a deterrent against an enemy we can't identify and feared investing in nuclear weapons would set off another costly arms race.

It was good to have the debate. My inclination is still to vote against renewal, but I will continue to inform myself about all aspects of this issue.

I look forward to public meetings, particularly the next one I'm holding on Saturday 10 March in Ararat Church from 10am to 12.30pm, to celebrate the bicentenary of the ending of slavery.

On this and many other issues, it's so important for people to be able to get together and have their say. I'm convinced this makes for a lively and engaged community and it is clearly one way that people can reconnect with the political process.