I am sure you have noticed, the autumn nights are really starting to draw in now. It is a wonderful time of year as the leaves change colour and autumn mists descend, softening the countryside.

In particular, it is a time to celebrate the harvest. I did so with my family at a service at St Peter’s, Bushey Heath, where we joined parishioners afterwards for a delicious home-cooked Sunday harvest lunch. I also intend to be at the Shenley Apple Day in Shenley Park, where we can celebrate the bounty of its historic orchards.

Harvest festival is a time to be thankful for our great fortune. We all, of course, face challenges and difficulties in our lives, but most of us have plenty of food, warm homes and loving families. It is therefore also a time to consider those less fortunate. I was reminded of this in a recent visit to Citizens Advice Hertsmere’s AGM. They perform an invaluable service in assisting people to deal with debt, homelessness and family breakdown.

Across the world there are millions of refugees who are trying to feed their families on less than a £1 a week. The recent massacring of such struggling people in places like Syria, which we debated in Parliament, and Yemen is a stain on our common humanity. We should not be turning aside as this happens. I am pleased that Britain is giving over £2 billion in aid in Syria alone.

As we settle into the comforting routines of autumn, I will try as your MP to remain focussed on the need to tackle these injustices both at home and abroad.

• This Article appeared in the November 2016 issue of My Bushey News and My Radlett News