Emma McClarkin MEP joins forces with East Midlands MEPs at National Defence Academy in Shrivenham

East Midlands Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin joined forces with MPs from around the East Midlands this week as she went into training at the National Defence Academy in Shrivenham.

The three day training exercise at the National Defence Academy was organised by the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS), and saw the East Midlands politician receive intensive training, before being allowed to take part in combat training.

The AFPS is a privately-run programme aiming to give UK MPs and MEPs experience of the armed forces. By exposing its members to first-hand experience of the forces, the scheme aims to improve the quality of parliamentary debate on military issues.

Some of the MPs joining Emma at the National Defence Academy were fellow Conservative politicians Andrew Bingham, MP for the High Peak in Derbyshire; and Karl McCartney, MP for Lincoln.

Speaking about her experience, Emma said, “The parliamentary scheme gives a fantastic insight into the realities of conflict and life in the forces. I hope that by being better informed we will be able to help support our Armed Forces better in the future.”

Andrew Bingham added, “We met and heard first hand from soldiers who had been to Afghanistan, Iraq and the Falkland Islands. We hear and read so much about the various conflicts across the world, but to speak to those who were there was an extremely sobering and humbling experience.”