HUMAN rights, potholes and wildlife are just some of the issues Witney MP Robert Courts has been tackling today.
The Oxford Mail has spent the day shadowing Mr Courts in Westminster, from this morning's transport select committee session to meeting RSPB campaigners this afternoon, via Prime Minister's Questions.
It may come as a surprise to some, but the MP's diary is incredibly busy - even when a reporter is in tow.
With normal days lasting between 12 and 15 hours, Mr Courts admits the job becomes 'a way of life'.
He said: “One of the biggest challenges is diary management.
“There’s a baffling amount going on here and you could easily fill any given day with four or five days worth of work, but you just can’t do everything."
The Witney MP lives in his London flat from Sunday to Thursday night during the working week, with his day usually beginning at about 8am.
In Westminster today to bring you a day in the life of Witney MP @robertcourts. I’ll be tweeting as much as I can so stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/KBAmzBxzB4
— James Roberts (@OxMailJamesR) April 24, 2019
Today's first major commitment was a transport select committee meeting in Portcullis House, opposite the Houses of Parliament.
This was the last session in the committee's long-running review into improving local roads, with transport minister Jesse Norman taking questions from the cross-party group of MPs.
With West Oxfordshire consisting of hundreds of rural roads, it is something that affects thousands of residents - and the Witney MP revealed he prioritises issues that impact his constituents most.
Read again: Witney MP says district's roads are improving
He said: "The focus of everything we do here is constituent-based.
"Even the national issues are approached with a West Oxfordshire angle."
Select committees offer members the chance to go into more depth than Prime Minister's Questions, which followed Wales Office Questions in the House of Commons.
Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn were absent due to attending the funeral of journalist Lyra McKee in Northern Ireland, but several of the government's big hitters were there.
Following the 45-minute session, Mr Courts remained in the House of Commons Chamber for urgent questions on the mass execution of prisoners in Saudi Arabia.
Read again: Witney MP speaks out on Brexit
The Witney MP was keen to seek reassurance that the government 'would not prioritise trade over human rights' across the globe.
Now in Robert’s office in Norman Shaw North - four people normally work in here, so it can get a bit cramped! pic.twitter.com/NcQGMEBa89
— James Roberts (@OxMailJamesR) April 24, 2019
He then returned to his office - a strikingly small room in the Norman Shaw building - for case work and correspondence, along with an in-depth chat with the Oxford Mail.
Three of the MP's staff work in the room, with the other member in his Witney office.
The most recent item on Mr Courts's agenda was a trip to Westminster Hall to speak to RSPB campaigners, who are seeking to lobby MPs over the ongoing Environmental Bill - but his working day will continue for several hours.
A full report will be in the Oxford Mail later this week.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel