Last Sunday was Stir-Up Sunday, so called after the Collect which is read in church from the Book of Common Prayer, it starts: Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded.

Through an association of ideas the words stir up and fruit, got women in the pews thinking about the list of chores to make it the day to stir in the fruit to make Christmas pudding. If you didn't start on making a pudding last week there is still time to prepare a delicious homemade pudding and give the flavours time to mature by Christmas day. 

But the phrase to "stir up" does not only refer to cooking. It has other meanings too. I am happy to stir up trouble on behalf of the people I represent. That's why I'm in Parliament.

I have recently been stirring things up on behalf of Slough children. First I had to stop a Tory-Lib Dem Council from concreting over Slough's playgrounds, then I helped win funds to pay for new outdoor play spaces.  Then I had to persuade the new government not to take the money away.  We succeeded. Slough will keep £439,010 for eight new playgrounds.

I am proud that determined stirring has stopped the coalition government (which took more money from children than from bankers to pay for the deficit) from cutting our children's playgrounds, but they are still cutting children's sport.

My latest bit of stirring is against plans to relocate Slough's mental health inpatients to the other side of Reading. Slough has poor mental health and inadequate community services for patients. A year ago a modern comprehensive centre was planned at Upton Hospital. Now the Coalition's cuts are being used to justify even worse services for Slough.

I am also stirring to keep an MP for Slough. This is still at risk from new boundary proposals.  Slough is the only Labour seat for miles, and although I have won one concession in the new law it would still be possible for Slough to be split between Surrey, Buckinghamshire and Windsor or Maidenhead. Slough voters deserve an MP who will focus on their concerns.

I promise I won't sit back in the face of government plans which harm my constituents. I will stand up and stir up for Slough.