MY addiction to reading was sparked by JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
Aged about 11, I gorged myself on this adventure of good against evil.
The images the author conjured up remain with me still.
Of apocalyptic horses at full gallop, their hooves hardly touching the ground, and the ominous gathering of dark clouds on the horizon.
The latter image, I fear, is relevant politically today.
With the very real threat of a confrontation with Russia abroad, and serious problems at home, there has never been a greater need for leadership, a vision and the courage to pursue it.
I remember a piece of advice I received from my first commanding officer when I joined my regiment.
He told me to earn the men’s respect first, before attempting to gain their affection.
He was right; as politicians, we cannot possibly please everyone, even those on our own side.
So, right now, at a time of uncertainty, it’s vital we stick to our Conservative philosophy, the simplest of all.
It’s freedom of the individual, less state and the provision of a safety net for those who need it to fall into.
Regrettably, relying on the state has become endemic following Covid.
Two traumatic years have inspired a culture that expects the government to solve all our problems, when it cannot.
Battered by rising costs and inflation, we have resorted to handing out money, some of it via a windfall tax on oil and gas companies,
Quite apart from stifling investment and innovation, whatever we raise will never be enough.
Once given, there will be calls for more, and screams of outrage when it is withdrawn.
The Conservative way is to lower taxation, giving the citizen more money in their pocket, and business the incentive to generate prosperity and jobs.
Productivity is the key and high taxation crushes it.
In the 12 short years I have been an MP, I have noticed the propensity to set targets, most of them unachievable.
The one that stands out is our rush to net zero by 2050.
While reducing emissions is a priority, it should not be ruinous.
Pragmatism must trump eco-zealotry.
Oil and gas will be needed for many years to come, until such time we have workable, reliable and affordable alternatives.
Much work is being done in this sector, with huge investment in renewables and, now, plans for more nuclear.
Our under-investment in energy supply over many years has simply meant we rely more on imports.
Strategically this makes no sense, not least for an island nation.
While I’m delighted that food security has jumped to the top of the priority list, it was sadly prompted by the war in Ukraine.
Despite this, we still seem set on taking land out of production for biodiversity, rewilding and planting trees.
There’s a balance, of course, but farmers are tired of ticking environmental boxes to qualify for public money when their raison d’etre is to grow food.
Boldness is what we need in all areas of policy and nowhere do we need that more than in standing up to Putin.
The Prime Minister has led the way in this regard and in a recent visit to NATO HQs with the Defence Committee, we heard how both he and the UK were held in the highest regard.
Leading the way we are, which is why it beggars belief we plan to cut the army by 10,000, a reckless move if ever there was one.
I am not alone in thinking this.
Of course, investing in defence means taking money from somewhere else but, if we are to live within our means, productivity must rise and savings made.
Let me end by returning to my JRR Tolkien theme.
If we Conservatives do not counter the gathering storm of socialism, we will only have ourselves to blame.
The damage Labour and their legions would inflict on our nation, were they given the chance, would be irreparable.
We can prevent this – and do so under the current Prime Minister – but action is needed, fast.