There was a rush of activity in Parliament last week with lots of All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) restarting after the General Election. These groups, involving MPs and peers, provide an important forum for cross-party working and although they often operate out of the public eye, sometimes manage to make a real difference on specific issues.

I attended meetings on autism, net zero, ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), youth action and climate change, dog welfare, and Somaliland, and chaired the AGM of the Performers’ Alliance, which brings together the Musicians Union, Equity and the Writers Guild to represent the needs of people working in the arts.