Peter Aldous: My First Week

Waveney's newly elected MP, Peter Aldous, recounts his experience of his first week in Parliament.

"There have been a lot of inductions about IT and the practicalities such as expenses and knowing your way around here, explaining how everything works and the procedures of the House itself," he said. "There's an awful lot to take in, it's a bit of a maze, a bit like Hogwarts Castle!

"I have friends who live nearby and they have very kindly put me up in a spare bedroom for the time being - I've got to get to grips with that over the next couple of days. I think I will be looking to rent something very simple and basic.

"I believe David Cameron has earned his spurs as prime minister in what's happened since last Thursday. From my point of view, I think it's definitely the right thing to have done, a lot of people have had feedback from their constituents and the response I got was 'make it work, you should go for that coalition'.

"I kept thinking last week that it hadn't really sunk in. The first time it did was when I was rung by a whip last Saturday for my view on a coalition with the Lib Dems.

"I suddenly felt that this isn't just idle gossip in the pub, it actually means something - that's when it hit me."

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