The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
There have been a few curmudgeons out there moaning about the recent knighthood of Sir John Hayes and these people need to have a good look at his record which speaks for itself.
There are few more worthy recipients of a knighthood than John Hayes. His record of public service over 35 years is exceptional and includes more than 12 years as a Nottinghamshire County Councillor and 21 years as the local MP.
In South Holland and the Deepings, he has served with distinction, care and, most of all, kindness. Never high handed or pompous, he is always ready to help.
I learned recently that he has taken up more than 4,000 (yes thousand!) individual cases on behalf of his constituents each year; over 21 years. That’s well over 100,000 people John has worked to help. In Parliament he is among the most frequent and most admired orators.
In addition to all this, John was on his party’s front bench in roles such as Shadow Minister for Schools, Senior Opposition Whip, Shadow
Minister for Housing and Planning and Shadow Minister for Higher Education. In Government he served as Minister of State in no less than six Government departments.
As Skills Minister he delivered the rejuvenation of apprenticeships; as Energy Minister supported communities in their battle against onshore wind turbines; as Security Minister guided – with consummate skill – the Investigatory Powers Act through Parliament; and as Transport Minister, led the way forward with electric vehicles.
Whilst in the Cabinet Office, John served, as very few do, at the very heart of Government in No 10 Downing Street.
It is not unusual for a Prime Minister to recommend honours for former ministers (several have been knighted in this way in recent times), but none are more deserving than Sir John Hayes.
He is quite frankly a legend.
Andrew Livsey
via email
