This post originally was going to be a carry on of a review of the spending reviewing, however I have to acknowledge that this week has been a historic one for our nation.

There were two votes on subjects which we as a country don’t normally debate and an issue that has loomed large over our country and it’s official for far too long.

Firstly, a week has gone by since the government announced that there will be a national inquiry into grooming gangs. This follows the recommendations that were set out by an audit carried out by Baroness Louise Casey. The inquiry will cover England and Wales.

In my honest opinion, listening to the findings by Baroness Casey, it is amazing that a national inquiry has never been held before with all the known cases and knowledge of what has been happening by officials. I get that the reasons that the government delayed making the decision, waiting for the report by Baroness Casey, however this doesn’t excuse previous governments.

We as a country should not make this political – it sounds like officials across the board, regardless of party, could have done more earlier. It is important that the inquiry gets to the heart of what has happened and any cover ups. We also need to try and make sure that the victims aren’t forced to have to re-live what happened in their heads – I’m not sure how to balance it, but certainly does need consideration.

Secondly, the votes that have taken place in parliament this week are “Un-British like” – in the sense that we don’t normally debate such matters and, as the votes showed, our political affiliation are broadly based around matters away from such subjects.

The first of these, which will result in the decriminalisation of women who end their pregnancy, was passed by a majority of 242 votes. MPs on this issue were allowed to vote according to their personal beliefs. This will mean that women will no longer be at risk of being investigated by police if they terminate their pregnancy.

It won’t change laws surrounding the provision of abortion services within a healthcare setting – including the requirement for two doctors’ approval.

As a man, whilst I do feel that we can have an argument surrounding this issue, overall I believe we as men should take a step back and let women lead the direction on this. Yes it can affect us, however it obviously affects women more and their bodies. This is an law that, yes looks over all abortions, but ultimately affects individual women and their circumstances.

I believe that women should be able to make the choice on whether to have an abortion or not, but also that there are safeguards when it gets to a certain period in the pregnancy.

On Friday, on another subject, MPs voted to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was voted through with a majority of 23 – 314 votes for, 291 against.

Whilst this topic is a very emotional topic, it is worth saying that it should our parliament at it’s best. MPs sat in silence listening to each other making points for and against. It was a free vote, so MPs from across the political spectrum could’ve been speaking from the same hymn sheet. It was parliament at it’s best.

The bill will now go to the House of Lords for further scruntiny.

Again on this subject, I do believe that everyone should be able to make their own minds on this and that there are the safeguards surrounding it. We should also make sure that our health care services are the best that they can be, so we can assist people to live properly.

Going back to why this week was so historic, is no more shown then in the breakdown of votes on the assisted dying bill.

39 MPS didn’t vote, that was 15 Labour, 5 Conservatives, 2 Lib Dems, 9 SNP, 7 Sinn Fein and 1 SDLP.

Those MPs in favour – 313 – the breakdown is 224 Labour, 56 Lib Dems, 20 Conservative, 4 Green, 3 Plaid Cymru, 3 Independents, 2 Reform and 1 SDLP.

Those MPs against – 291 – 160 Labour, 92 Conservative, 15 Lib Dems, 12 Independents, 5 DUP, 3 Reform, 1 UUP, 1 TUV, 1 Plaid Cymru and 1 APNI.

MPs standing alongside the MPs they normally wouldn’t. A day parliament went on a vote on a social matter.

A very historic week in the UK.