Many years ago I was a volunteer helping run a police boys club. One of the activities was boxing and this week I helped launch the Amateur Boxing Association’s campaign against knives and guns.
With an extraordinary and horrific co-incidence a 15 year old girl was murdered in the block of flats where I rent a room in London. She died a few feet from my front door. She was a polite and cheerful girl whose life has been brutally ended at such a young age. We have very strong laws against knife and gun crime, but we need to go further and change the culture, especially when people think it is cool to carry a knife. It is not cool, it is moronic. In my view only cowards carry knives.
In Harworth, on Friday, Vern Goodlad who has set up a new boxing club told me, as I looked round the club, that his aim was to use sport to ensure that enthusiasm is channelled and self respect and self discipline is developed. His boxing club does not even have a water supply yet, whilst in Worksop the new thriving boxing club has no premises. We will sort both out.
I am already negotiating some potential premises for them, and I am intending to also seek the advice and help of the well established Langold Boxing Club which is part of the Amateur Boxing Association.
I believe that amateur boxing has a huge future as a sport and I believe that its campaign against guns and knives needs the fullest support. I call on both County and District Council’s to weigh in with financial support to allow a rapid growth and for our schools to build boxing into their sports agenda.
Richard Caborn MP, the new President of the Amateur Boxing Association, will be visiting Worksop soon and I intend to pull all those involved in boxing together, especially with the welcome news that the Coalfield Regeneration Trust is entertaining bids for finance to develop the sport in communities like ours. Boxing is only one part of changing the gun and knife culture on Britain’s streets, but it is an important part.
On a lighter note, if you wish to visit Parliament my next trip for local residents is on Friday 11 July and you can contact me on 01909 506200 or mannj@parliament.uk if you wish to reserve a place. Hopefully, it will be glorious weather, helping to make it a fantastic day out in London with free time for those who want in the afternoon and a full visit to this fascinating and historic building. | 
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