We are elected to represent our constituents in parliament but in reality much of our work is in the local community dealing with local issues and individual people’s problems. 

When I was selected to fight the seat in 1986 I was the first woman (having been preceded by 6 Labour men in Deptford). In 1987 I was one of only 41 women (21 Labour) out of 650. Even today there are more men sitting in the Commons than all the women ever elected.

All my parliamentary life I have championed the cause of women and campaigned for more women to be selected, which is why I was delighted my constituency party opted for an all women shortlist and selected Vicky Foxcroft.

Over the years I have seen enormous changes in the constituency, much of it for the better. Schools have improved, hospitals and health services have improved and most of the major council housing estates have been rebuilt. The biggest improvements came under the last Labour government when for 13 years we made huge investment locally. Much of what we did has been rapidly undermined by the Tory/Lib Dem Coalition, and only a change of government will save society from further fracture and impoverishment.

For myself it’s been a roller coaster of a journey. I’ve seen five Prime Ministers come and four depart – only one to go! I’ve held 3 ministerial posts and spent active years as a backbencher both in government and opposition. I am most proud of introducing laws on fly tipping and on doorstep recycling through private members bills; for being minister for climate change; for providing direct help to thousands of constituents with a myriad of issues and for being part of the Save Lewisham Hospital campaign.

I am saddened by our failure to bring anyone to justice for the deaths of 14 young people in the New Cross fire of 1981, despite achieving a new police investigation and a new inquest.

I despair of the housing crisis in London that has blunted so many aspirations and bought misery to thousands of my constituents.

And I will never understand how governments find it acceptable to threaten to kill millions of people with nuclear weapons when all other weapons of mass destruction have been outlawed by international agreement.

But as I leave my greatest hope is to see Vicky Foxcroft elected to the Commons, Ed Miliband in Downing Street and a better life for people in Lewisham. 

In the weeks leading up to and after Holocaust Memorial Day thousands of commemorative events are being arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisation across the country to remember the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.

I encourage all constituents to mark the day and to join members of the community in the fight against prejudice and intolerance.

Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said:

"We are proud that Dame Joan is supporting Holocaust Memorial Day. As we mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust and the liberation of the concentration camps in 2015, it is vitally important that we both continue to remember and learn from the appalling events of the Holocaust - as well as ensuring that we continue to challenge antisemitism and all forms of bigotry".

The motion for the debate, moved by SNP MP Angus Robertson, was "That this House believes that Trident should not be renewed." In my speech I questioned whether spending up to £100 billion on weapons of mass destruction was the best way to defend the people of this country when we cannot raise millions out of poverty or fund our precious national health service. I also questioned the Cold War thinking still exhibited by nuclear-armed states and whether nuclear weapons even act as a deterrent against current terrorism.

As one of only nine nuclear-armed states in the world, the UK cannot escape its duty to progress disarmament talks. So why would we seek to upgrade Trident for another 50 years without exploring what might be done to bring forward multilateral nuclear disarmament?

You can read my speech (and the debate in full) here.

Unfortunately I was not able to stay for the vote at the end of the debate as I had a long-standing constituency engagement, but sadly it would have made little difference to the result: only 37 MPs voted in favour of the motion and 364 against.