LAST week saw the publication of a truly remarkable document: The Coalition Agreement. This document highlights the headline detail of the way our country is to be governed, over the next five years, by the new coalition government.

There will be people who will be concerned that elements of both Conservative and Liberal Democrat manifestos will have been dropped, or compromised on. But what this document does is to present a future that takes into account how the majority of the country voted a few weeks back.

It deals with the disaster that is our public finances and does not shirk from the fact that difficult decisions will have to be made. But it also looks to the future with optimism, presenting a new way to govern through a common desire by both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to work in the national interest. It is certainly a document that I feel, rather than simply making ‘The best of a bad job’, seizes the opportunity to work for a better country. And when it comes to my acid test on everything that happens in Parliament – how does this affect Wyre Forest? – I have to say that I feel it will benefit our local interests.

The process of settling in continues and all MPs are currently swearing in for the new Parliament. The work for the first session (the first year) was presented in Tuesday’s Queen’s Speech and as the details get debated, I will give more of my thoughts in next week’s column.

Meanwhile, my work locally continues with meeting the various town managers and leaders. My priorities absolutely focus on how we can build our local economy, for our three towns and communities, and find a direction going forward. This is not something that will happen overnight, but it is vital to get this right.

I also held my first surgery on Friday, and intend to hold them on a fortnightly basis going forward (unless there is a need for greater frequency).

My Kidderminster office is in the process of being signed up, but in the meantime please contact either 01562 823820 or 020 7219 7198 to make an appointment, or email mark.garnier.mp@parliament.uk Finally, can I say thank you to all the people who stop me in the street offering their good wishes.

It is both incredibly kind and very welcome and shows just how warm the people of Wyre Forest are.

Mark Garnier Conservative MP for Wyre Forest