The first week back to Westminster from the summer recess always brings surprises and changes, but even more so for me this time.

Charles Kennedy has appointed me as the Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Fisheries Spokesman as part of the new Front Bench team.

I have to say that I was not expecting this promotion, but I gladly accepted the challenge it offers, as I consider these as some of the most important areas of Government policy, not only for South East Cornwall, but also for the rest of the country.

So it was on my first day I visited the French Embassy with a large joint of prime Cornish beef to bring to his attention the disgraceful actions of his country in continuing their ban on our beef, in defiance of the EU Commission.

The meeting was frank and cordial and I was at one time doubtful that the Ambassador would accept the gift.

However, he told me that Ambassadors sometimes had to live dangerously, and indicated he was delighted to live dangerously with our present to him.

He did undertake to relay our concerns directly to his Government and perhaps this will have contributed to other direct actions and will persuade the French Government to drop this unlawful and unnecessary ban.

On Wednesday the Liberal Democrats chose Food and Farming as the subject for debate and so I made my maiden contribution as the new Front Bench Spokesman.

Surprisingly the Conservatives failed to submit their own motion and only a few turned up to contribute and unbelievably they decided not even to record a vote at the end.

No doubt this was to snub the Liberal Democrats, but this is the worst sort of political warfare, because i also denies their constituents a voice and suggests and lack of interest which I very much hope is not the case.

Agriculture needs decisive and concerted support from all parties and should not become a political football, least of all for the Conservatives, as it is in their period of office that these problems have their roots. They should be helping to sort this crisis out and not trying to frustrate the process.