THE confirmation of Aviva’s decision to close its newly acquired offices of Friends Life has been a disappointing decision for the city. Many workers have told me they expect to relocate to Dorking or Bristol and some will take the opportunity of voluntary redundancy.

My thoughts are with those workers and their families at this uncertain time. This blow reinforces my determination to secure more investment in Salisbury and South Wiltshire. My discussions with the LEP and Council lead me to see the need to develop a Salisbury Innovation Accelerator – to draw in new jobs around our core industries at Porton and nearby.

While Salisbury has been busy celebrating a week of Magna Carta anniversary celebrations, I have been sorry to miss out due to Parliamentary obligations that demand my presence in London.

The Cathedral authorities, under June Osborne’s leadership, have done a fantastic job of bringing together an ambitious programme of events.

However, I was able to make my own gesture of commemoration over the weekend, walking 28 miles from Runnymede to Westminster in company with my good friend and Home Office Minster Lord Bates, who in the dim and distant past once employed me as his research assistant!

It took 11 hours and, although I was somewhat sore on Monday, we were successful in raising a significant sum for Fair Trials Abroad – a cause upholding the right spirit of justice and equality under the law.

Yet another Salisbury event I was sorry to miss out on this week was Wednesday’s speaking engagement by former Prime Minister John Major in support of Arundells, at the same time as the whips required my presence for the Opposition day debate on productivity, which falls under the remit of my department – Business, Innovation and Skills.

At least I was able to drop in on Bishopstone Country Fair – aka The BishBash, which was more than worthy of its reputation a cracking day out.

I will be back again on Friday when, among my engagements, I will enjoy catching up with Salisbury College, Riverbourne Community Farm and Mencap.

I also look forward to Broad Chalke officially becoming the latest community in the constituency to benefit from cutting edge mobile phone signal boosting technology – to help more people get connected without the need for additional masts.