Parliament is now back in action and by the time you're reading this, we'll be into the final day of debate on the Queen's Speech. The votes on the speech, and therefore the Government's legislative agenda, will come on Thursday night which means writing something now about those votes is fraught with danger.
However, my sense is that the deal done with the Democratic Ulster Unionists will provide the Government with a majority through which legislation can move forward. As in the last Parliament, it will not be straight forward for the Government and Conservative Backbenchers will continue to enjoy great power over our lawmaking because each and every vote will be vital.
That doesn't mean there will be lots of rebellion. After all, an MP only needs to rebel when they've failed to get what they wanted through engaging their ministerial colleagues. Time and again in the last Parliament, the Government's plans had to be watered down because Conservative MPs had said they wouldn't vote for their proposals. I'm looking forward to making sure that our priorities here in Somerset continue to be reflected in the Government's programme over the next few years.
Moreover, I'm looking forward to doing it from a position of greater influence as I have been asked this week to join the Government as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Transport. We have many road, rail and public transport issues in the Wells Constituency that I look forward to raising further with my colleagues in the Department for Transport. I'll also be able to use my new role to gain greater access to Minister's elsewhere in Government and to make sure that the concerns of our community are understood and acted on.