North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara has given the 42 Engineer Regiment from RAF Wyton a special tour of the Houses of Parliament.
Mr Vara was pleased to welcome Lt Col Alex Mayes, along with a number of his colleagues from the 42 Engineer Regiment.
The group had a tour of the Houses of Parliament, followed by a meeting and discussion with Mr Vara in Westminster Hall, which dates back over 1,000 years.
Mr Vara said: "It is always a pleasure to welcome constituents to Parliament.
Excellent meeting and discussion in Parliament with Lt Col Alex Mayes and colleagues from the 42 Engineer Regiment from RAF Wyton in my constituency.
— Shailesh Vara MP (@ShaileshVara) October 11, 2023
A lot of topics covered, including the war in Ukraine and future British defence strategy. pic.twitter.com/1EpBMKbvVT
"I was very pleased to meet Lt Col Mayes and his colleagues and have a very good and informative discussion with them.
"Our military are on the front line ensuring the safety of our nation, and I am grateful for their insight into a number of issues, especially those pertaining to the military, from an RAF perspective."
The meeting covered a variety of issues, including the role of MPs, their accountability to the electorate, the processes of Parliament, and how decisions concerning the military are taken.
The war in Ukraine was also discussed, as well as the potential impact that the domestic politics of other nations could have on British defence strategy and on NATO.
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The discussion also covered the rise of fake news and its possible impact on the outcomes of general elections and politics.
Lt Col Mayes added: "We had a fantastic visit to Parliament, and we were very pleased to meet our local MP, Shailesh Vara.
"It was good to be able to put our questions to him and hear how political decisions are made at the highest levels of government, along with the role played by civil servants and outside experts.
"It was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the processes which shape our lives each and every day."
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