NATIONAL news this week has been dominated by a man from Chippenham – the new leader of the Labour Party and the official Leader of Her Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition – Jeremy Corbyn.

Certainly the remarkable and awesome scale of Corbyn’s victory signals the final nail in the New Labour coffin.

It is a return to Old Labour – what their socialist supporters call Real Labour.

A backbencher for 32 years, never previously having come even remotely close to ministerial office and despite an onslaught of attacks from Labour Party MPs, has actually won – and won convincingly.

You would think a Conservative MP would be pleased with the disarray and unrest on the benches opposite, but I am not.

I believe that any government needs credible and competent opposition to ensure that the laws that pass through Parliament are sound.

I believe that Jeremy Corbyn’s views on national security, our membership of Nato, his attitude to defence, the economy, business and the nationalisation of industry are contrary to what is in our national interest. There is a chance that he could be our next Prime Minister – he is the Labour Party’s choice to be our next PM – but I believe that a Corbyn government would be a disaster for the UK, especially counties like Wiltshire.

I was in Westminster last Friday for the very important debate about assisted suicide. In the run-up to the debate I received hundreds of emails on this controversial subject with a very broad range of views on all sides of the argument. Unfortunately, despite over four hours of trying, I was not called to speak in the debate. If you would like to read what I would have said, had I been called, you can do so on my website michelledonelan.com/assisted-dying.

Back in Wiltshire, this weekend I took part in two charity walks. On Saturday, The Big Walk aimed to raise money for two excellent charities: Hope for Tomorrow, a national cancer charity dedicated to bringing cancer treatment closer to patients’ homes and Young Melksham, a local charity working with children, young people and their families in the Melksham community area.

On Sunday I was delighted to cut the ribbon and give out medals at the Corsham Memory Walk for the Alzheimer’s Society.

More than 300 people registered online and even more turned up on the day to raise money and awareness for those suffering with Alzheimer’s.