MP heads to Nepal as political volunteer (From Oxford Mail)

MP heads to Nepal as political volunteer

3:50pm Thursday 30th July 2009 in Banbury

NORTH Oxfordshire MP Tony Baldry is heading to Nepal over the summer for volunteer work.

Mr Baldry went to the region last year as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Voluntary Service Overseas organisation.

He, along with other MPs, were called political volunteers or Polvols and worked on a new constitution for the country, which is wedged between India and China.

He will return to spend a fortnight continuing the work.

Mr Baldry said Nepal was a fragile state and one of the poorest in Asia, but strategically important to UK interests.

He said: “For years we have been greatly indebted to those Nepalese who have joined the Brigade of Gurkhas.

“However, Nepal has serious political problems, and the political situation is worse now than when I was last in Kathmandu last year.

“Not only are the political parties in Nepal wary of each other, but there are serious divisions within their own membership.

“However, work on the new constitution is still going ahead.”

He hopes to pass on his experiences of many years in Parliament, and as a former Government minister.