THE tragic death of my Labour colleague Jo Cox MP last Thursday has shocked the nation.

For my staff and myself it was particularly distressing as we empathised greatly with the ‘surgery’ scenario that all MPs conduct each week.

I find my time meeting constituents at surgery the most rewarding part of my constituency role, giving us the challenge of delivering or helping to deliver some practical changes for individuals who often start the conversation by saying, “I had nowhere else to go” .

I did not know Jo well but I attended the session in parliament on Monday to hear the tributes to her and pay my respects.

I hope that her death allows us to reflect on the tone of public discourse but more importantly I hope it provokes proactive, protective measures for many of my colleagues, often female ones, who endure enormous and completely outrageous abuse online, often involving threats to their person.

On Friday my visit to the QinetiQ apprenticeship training scheme in Boscombe was inspiring. A number of the apprentices had secured fourth place in the national finals of the Brathay Apprentice Challenge.

It was interesting to listen to the story of individuals from our community who had opted for an apprenticeship rather than university.

The high-quality, four-year training offers enormous opportunities, with a very strong probability of permanent employment on graduation.

It is also encouraging to note that there is no upper age limit on applicants for the apprenticeship, which means a number of those I met had transferred from other employment in order to invest in long-term skill development.

This week I shall be attending a Mencap event, an awards ceremony for volunteering as well as a board meeting of Salisbury Chambers of Commerce and the South Wilts Business of the Year Awards.

During the weekend I will be pleased to see the formal opening of St John’s Cultural Centre for which many people deserve enormous praise, in particular Revd Simon Woodley, who has been a champion for the community in Bemerton over many years.