A general dissatisfaction with Mr Blair and the Labour Government in general is hardly surprising, and is well evidenced by the 60,000 more votes for the Conservatives than for Labour in England at the last general Election, and by our consistently better performance in the polls – the best I am told for 14 years, and much more consistent than previously. More surprising in a way, however, is that whereas in the past most people were predominantly concerned about domestic issues- unemployment, the economy, schools and hospitals, immigration, law and order – while all of those issues are still in the background, by far the biggest reason for the fundamental dislike of the Government is what is happening round the world, Iraq and their Foreign Policy in general. It is the first time I can remember- since Suez perhaps - that overseas events have dominated the public’s concerns to quite such a degree.

The Liberal Democrats are noticeable by their complete absence from the National Stage. And as to we Conservatives? People seem by and large interested in and excited by David Cameron’s new style of leadership and some of the “branding” changes which he is making to the Party’s image. But everywhere I go, people express their frustration that we are not coming up with more firm, eye-catching policies. “Why aren’t you getting this Government out?” they ask. “”Why aren’t you kicking them harder?” “Where are all your exciting policy announcements?” I can understand their frustration , so let me try and answer those questions.

There is, of course, first of all, no mechanism, by which we can remove the Government. They were put there by the people with a reasonable majority, and have another 3 or 4 years to serve. I personally do not expect any kind of snap General Election even after Mr Brown finally wins his crown and becomes PM. What that means is that there is no particular point in simply constantly “kicking” them. The media do a pretty good job of that for us, and our perception is that the people are looking for a new kind of politics – a more consensual approach, less “Punch and Judy”, more thoughtful and intelligent. And we are trying to find a way of doing just that. And that does not necessarily mean that we should yet announce a great raft of policies. David Cameron has put six Policy Groups in place, whose remit is to start with a clean piece of paper and come up with advice and ideas by this time next year. So it won’t be until then, or later, that we produce any kind of comprehensive or coherent Manifesto. Surely its right that we should spend some time at this stage in the electoral cycle listening and thinking?

So I hope that my constituents will keep doing what they have never been shy of – letting me know their views and thoughts. They may not see them reflected in immediate dramatic policy changes. But now is the time to let us know what you think as part of that policy making exercise. People often accuse politicians of “never listening.”  But that is exactly what we in the Conservative Party are currently doing!

In the same way, I do not begrudge Mr Blair his holiday, although when I see him I will recommend two weeks in a North Cornwall holiday cottage as vastly preferable to Cliff Richard’s luxurious Barbados villa. Far fewer paparazzi in the rain near Bude. But I do have to say that I find it very worrying how cut off from world events I have become over the two weeks. A good holiday is a cocoon away from the real world. And whereas world events will be little affected by my removal from them, I am worried about Mr Blair’s continuing absence.

The Cease Fire in Lebanon is very welcome in every way, although I am by no means certain that 200 French troops will be anything like sufficient to police it. But it is fragile in the extreme, and the discovery that Hezbollah’s rockets were being supplied by Iran and Syria is deeply worrying. A stable two state solution (Israeli and Palestinian) is the only sustainable long-term solution, but it is unachievable while Iran, Syria and their puppet terrorists, Hezbollah and Hamas are so strenuously opposed to it. Iraq meanwhile remains in outright civil war, and the fighting being experienced by British troops in Afganistan is said to be the most severe since the Second World War. So while the World remains an unstable and highly dangerous place, the carnage in the Middle East has been taken off our front pages by the (I have to say rather unattractive) photos of Tony and Cherie on the deck of a luxury yacht in the Caribbean. Something not quite right here, methinks.

I am in two minds about the much bruted recall of Parliament. We must certainly go back if any of these situations, or if civilian security in the UK security,worsens in any way. But  I am not sure what an immediate recall would achieve, since there is really precious little which the UK Parliament can actually do in these awful circumstances. Nonetheless I have added my name to the so-called Early Day Motion which asks that the power to recall parliament should be transferred from the Government to the Speaker of the House of Commons. After all, the Prime Minister is well known to find Parliament a nuisance, and presumably therefore would resist a Recall even where one was fully justified. And if we have any purpose at all, surely it is to hold the Government to account?

So now I have a very pleasant month or so out and about in the constituency, with a few days in the office in London. Even the weather seems to be looking towards the autumn , and I am raring to go on Constituency and parliamentary affairs. I only hope that Mr Blair is as refreshed and enthusiastic.

It seems likely that the House of Commons, which rose for the long Summer Recess last week will be recalled at some stage if the situation in Lebanon – or Iran, Iraq, Afganistan, Indo/Pak, or even onshore UK – worsens. I have some sympathy with those who are calling for Mr Blair to change his holiday arrangements, and at all events to avoid leaving Mr Prescott in charge. But I have to admit that I also have some sympathy for Mr Blair and his family, and for Mrs Becket who need and deserve some break, especially if there will be yet more demands on them in the Autumn.

For me, its my usual two weeks on the cliffs and beaches of North Cornwall, which will mean that there will be no Column in the Gazette next week. (I hope that sales of the newspaper don’t collapse too massively when the readership hears that. But I hope even more fervently that sales don’t increase during my week’s absence, nor decline when I start my weekly notes again!) And I have to say that while I love my work- both in the Constituency and in Parliament – a good couple of weeks of surfing, reading, walking, sunbathing, barbequeing is just exactly what I need to recharge the old batteries.

But as I head for Cornwall I do so with a horrible feeling of impending gloom at world events –  rather like the grand ball on the evening before Waterloo. We all hope and pray that Mr Blair, Mr Bush, the UN and NATO will approach all of these dreadful events with a steady hand and a true heart. For that’s what the world needs.

The truth is that Parliamentarians – and I suspect the general public  – breathe a collective sigh of relief as the House rises for the Summer Recess. It’s the end of quite a long year’s efforts since the Queen’s Speech last November. It’s the end of the uncomfortably hot month of July in the stifling atmosphere of London. It’s the end of a period of squabbling and bitterness, at least on the part of the Party in Government. (July was just as bad for us pre-1997). Phew!

It takes me a good few days to unwind back at Slaughterford, to sort out the mass of paperwork hanging over from the end of term, and generally pull myself together after a fairly gruelling term. A bit of holiday seems a not unreasonable request. But then from mid August until end September it’s a thoroughly pleasant round of Constituency duties, some reading and writing for which we otherwise get no time at all during the Parliamentary year, but which is actually quite important in a job like mine, preparations for the Party Conference, and of course the need to keep up to date with the vast mountain of never-ceasing correspondence, which will mean at least one or two days a week in London through the summer. There also seems a good chance that the House may well be recalled this year, rather depending on events in the Middle East.

The end of this Parliamentary year is particularly significant for me, because it also marks the departure of my brilliant Private Secretary, Catriona Sutherland-Hawes, who has been offered a job she really could not refuse at her daughter’s school. Those of you who kindly remark how very efficient my office is, should know that that is entirely due to Cat rather than me. I am hugely grateful for all she has done to make my parliamentary and constituency life so easy. Hers will be a hard act to follow, but I am determined that you will see no change in our operation, and so have replaced Cat with two excellent new secretaries.

15 hours a day, six days a week takes its toll and I hope that those of you with a more generous outlook on life will allow me a week or two’s Rural Rest and Recuperation.