Claire Perry lobbies her old boss Chancellor George Osborne on rail electrification

Tory MP Claire Perry has met up with Chancellor George Osborne – she started her political career working for him – to discuss local investment priorities for her Devizes constituency.

High on the agenda was the  importance of the extension of rail electrification of the First Great Western link with London Paddington on the stretch from Newbury to Bedwyn, due to start in 2016.

And Mrs Perry will tomorrow (Friday) be meeting rail minister Simon Burns to review progress on the electrification programme.

“Fast, frequent train services serving my constituency are really important to the local economy,” she said. “I arranged a meeting with the Chancellor to lobby for this investment to be brought forward so that electrification from Reading to Newbury can be completed sequentially.

“I was pleased that he understood the importance of this and he has asked me for further details. I will continue to work hard on securing investment for local projects.”

Meanwhile, 49-year-old Mrs Perry, now a government assistant whip, is giving priority to other infrastructure projects such as the roll-out of high speed broadband – Marlborough is not yet on the list – and dealing with sewer deficiencies.

“I am focused on the less glamorous end of infrastructure spending – the need to upgrade those pipes that take away what we don’t want to think about,” she reveals in her local newspaper column.

“BBC Wiltshire called me a ‘sewer anorak’ last week when I mentioned that the average age of sewers in the UK is 60 years and that this had contributed to some flooding problems.

“But with ongoing drainage problems in places like Aldbourne as a result of under-investment in these vital resources, I will wear that badge with pride.”

Mrs Perry has welcomed the improvement in the economy and the 167,000 record drop in unemployment in the last quarter but insists there is no room for complacency.

“We have to make sure that the economic progress is seen and not just talked about,” she declared.  “This welcome progress for Britain can continue – but only through making a long-term commitment to keep control of public expenditure, investing in infrastructure and supporting business growth.”