My debut in Parliament

I have always thought I should be in politics, but never imagined I would be in Parliament so soon.

I was at Westminster the other day - not as an MP, sadly, but as a representative of my charity and the community at large. The occasion in question was a book reading/discussion called 'Defiant Birth' organised by the Alive and Kicking campaign.

The building itself is gorgeous - having only seen it from the outside (and that too, focus is usually limited to Big Ben), it was awesome to look at the marvellous architecture from within the hallowed halls. Friendly policemen guided us to our little committee room, which was soon full of people sympathetic to the cause of anti-abortion/ disability groups /parents/ interested MP's.

Ann Winterton MP chaired the session while Dominic Lawson introduced it. Melinda Tankard Reist, the Australian author of the book and one of the contributors told their stories of despair, horror and discrimination.

It was an interesting evening - for the voices that spoke out, for the opinions expressed, for the lives cherished, for the questions raised.