It is about time that the angling world woke up to the consequences of the Severn Barrage to both migratory fish runs in the Wye, Usk and Severn catchments as well as to the impact on sea fishing in the Bristol Channel.

The summer parliamentary recess gives me a chance to lead a more normal existence.

Martin gives his impressions of Labour’s 2008 Annual Conference in Manchester.

This year National Fishing Week fell at the end of July, and in addition to taking part in local fishing events in my constituency, I also organised for the very first time, a charity angling competition between MPs, a team from the Metropolitan Police and young people from the charity Thames21, in the beautiful surroundings of Lake John fishery in Waltham Cross.

As I write this the coarse fishing season has just opened and I have found time to cast a line in rivers and lakes both at home and abroad.

Last week saw the ridiculous spectacle of the former Shadow Conservative Home Secretary contesting a by-election in his own constituency, caused by his own resignation following a disagreement with his own leader over the Tories’ approach to the pre-charge detention of terrorist suspects.

On Saturday I was in Broad Street, on a Labour Party stall promoting the forthcoming 60th Anniversary of the NHS.

I have been busy in Parliament in the last fortnight, sponsoring a Ten Minute Rule Bill which aims to halt the explosion of binge drinking by stopping the sale of cut price alcohol, and in working to set up a cross-party parliamentary group on Gurkha Rights.

Getting back to the Commons on Monday after the half-term break it was straight into the hot issues of the moment.

The British Canoe Union (B.C.U) have been up to their old tricks and have managed again to persuade a few of my fellow MPs to table a House of Commons Early Day Motion on river access for non-powered craft.