Freedom works.

Glorious weather failed to bless our Patrons’ party on Friday evening: the rain of the past few weeks fell hard.  Thank goodness we are British, shivering only slightly under cover outdoors for a successful event.

On Saturday, I was delighted to open Marlow Bottom’s 40th Rose Carnival, which was a roaring success. I discovered Park Lodge Judo Jujitsu Kai which offers the “Mother Art” of martial sports. Practical self-defence is one skill on offer but the heavy staffs pictured are for a more active purpose:

Either way, I’m minded that Jujitsu could come in handy if politics gets much rougher…

Finally, Beth and I much enjoyed a visit to Buckinghamshire Armed Forces Day, arriving in time for a Spitfire display and an exquisitely slow performance by Tiger Moths, pictured:

Today was sweltering as summer returned and it’s looking like a beautiful week ahead…

N.B. The author is Tim Hewish - my Parliamentary Researcher.

Against the media backdrop of the Chancellor’s announcement to rein in benefit expenditure, there is one important policy pledge that should be granted more air time: – subsidised university education for the children of soldiers, sailors and airmen killed on active service.

David Willetts, Minister for University and Science, told the Conservative Conference today:

There is one group of families to whom we have a special debt – the brave men and women who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan… and in one small way of recognising the ultimate sacrifice that they have made I can confirm that my department will set aside funding for new higher education scholarships for the children of deceased servicemen and women.

Under Labour, our armed forces have been overlooked and their educational needs left unmet. In short, their patriotism was lacking.

While in the United States, they have full programmes in place to help their service personal with the opportunity to a university education. The UK needs to study such a policy and develop our schemes to ensure our soldiers are not just in the best physical conditions, but also the leading figures in education and other civilian professions.

Today, the Conservatives continue to honour our Forces through political action and we will not leave a soldier behind:

We plan to go further. It is wrong that so many people, on leaving the armed forces, should face hard times. Liam Fox and I will honour our debt to them. That is why I can also confirm that my Department will continue funding service leavers to get new qualifications.

Highlights from the past week:

• On Monday, I attended the beginning of Armed Forces Week in Wycombe.
• Budget statement on Tuesday by the Chancellor. I spoke in the debate receiving a warm reception from Prof. Kevin Dowd on the Institute for Economic Affairs’ blog. The first Cobden Centre Austrian School Seminar began at the Institute of Economic Affairs.
• Wednesday saw a major post-budget event by the TaxPayers’ Alliance and the IEA, followed by lunch with Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, to discuss health reform and Wycombe Hospital.
• Writing for ConservativeHome on Thursday, I explained why economists disagree, why they are so often wrong and where economic thinking goes next. I followed this up on Saturday with some essential market analysis of the crisis from The Cobden Centre.
• On Thursday evening, I explained to like-minded comrades over dinner how we might deliver and entrench a new open society.
• On Friday, I visited the magnificent Skidz project, which delivers motor training for young people, before dropping in on the Schools Linking Network Celebration event at Adams Park. The evening was beautifully rounded off with a wonderful Patron’s summer party in Hambleden Valley.
• Yesterday, I visited Desborough Playden before enjoying Marlow Bottom’s Rose Carnival. I ended the day giving prizes to inspiring young people at the Muslim Education Centre on Totteridge Drive.

And all this reminds me: time to begin a new Google map for my work as MP…

I am pleased to see the launch of our armed forces manifesto:

David Cameron and Dr Liam Fox have launched the Conservative Party’s Armed Forces Manifesto.

“Our Forces sacrifice and risk so much to do their duty by us”, David Cameron said. “The least we can do in return is to do our duty by them.”

“So if elected, a Conservative government will work from day one to improve the lives of everyone in our Forces. And it will work to improve the lives of all their families.”

Read more.

Our armed forces manifesto:

Today, High Wycombe remembered the fallen. The occasion was magnificently put together and very well attended.

I would like to share with you two things from the service — a prayer and the second half of the second reading:

Lord God our Father,
we pledge ourselves to serve you and all humankind,
in the cause of peace,
for the relief of want and suffering,
and for the praise of your name.
Guide us by your spirit;
give us wisdom;
give us courage;
give us hope;
and keep us faithful now and always.
Amen.

And from Mark 12:41-44:

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

I have much else to write. But not today.