MPs 'could phone the lonely at at Christmas'

Glyn Davies, MP for Montgomeryshire, said simply taking the trouble to let people know he was thinking about them could make a huge difference for people feeling isolated during the time of the festivities.

Mr Davies was speaking during a discussion in the House of Commons on loneliness and communities.

He spoke about the loneliness suffered by many people in rural areas, particularly those who work in farming.

"Outside of my life in the public sector, I have worked in the hill livestock industry," he said.

"I remember, from the period of foot-and-mouth disease, how people in that industry were simply working alone most of the day.

"I remember the impact that I had as a public representative simply by ringing up those who I knew were on their own and struggling, just to talk to them.

"A practice that all of us can enter into, especially at Christmas time, is simply to ring people up and say, '’I'm the MP. I’m just ringing up to see how you are,' and speak for a couple of minutes.

"That has a huge impact, enables people to talk about it to their friends and makes them more a part of things. That is a real plus and all of us can do it."

The debate had been organised by Rachel Reeves, who is co-chairman of the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness.

The commission was launched last year by Miss Reeves and fellow MP Seema Kennedy in memory of Mrs Cox, who was murdered in her Batley constituency last year. Shortly before her death, Mrs Cox had been working with Mrs Kennedy on a project to deal with loneliness, and Miss Reeves and Mrs Kennedy agreed to carry on with the work.

Miss Reeves agreed with Mr Davies that MPs could play a major role in tackling loneliness in their communities.

"So many of the stories today are about things we can practically do, as individuals, as part of our communities and in our role as MPs," he said.