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Tourism, digital infrastructure, the arts and creative industries generally are all growth sectors of the UK economy.  They are also all the responsibility of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.  Once somewhat condescendingly labelled ‘the ministry of fun’, DCMS will play a critical role in shaping the future business landscape of the UK.  If we get the roll-out of broadband wrong or fail to maintain our global tourism share then businesses will suffer and entrepreneurship will be stifled.  DCMS will play an increasingly important role in decisions impacting the speed of UK economic growth.

It should come as no surprise, therefore, that David Cameron chose to elevate tourism on the political agenda in his keynote speech yesterday.

According to a recent Deloitte/Oxford Economics study for Visit Britain, Tourism directly generates 4% of the UK’s GDP or £52billion, and supports 1.36 million jobs and indirectly (via interaction with other businesses in the supply chain) generates nearly 9% of GDP or £115billion.  Over the next decade, the UK’s visitor economy is forecast to be one of the best performing sectors with above average growth of 3.5% per annum – outperforming key sectors such as manufacturing.

Tourism is particularly important in rural areas and in Wales and Scotland, and due to relative ease of entry into the industry, the visitor economy encourages entrepreneurship and supports a disproportionately large number of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

We must maintain our competitiveness and can not rely on a weak pound forever to drive growth.  Public transport in the UK, especially trains, are notoriously expensive compared to Europe, our accommodation offerings are relatively expensive and our service standards are of variable quality.  Yet nearly 30 million tourists visited Britain last year and while they are spending more per trip than at any time in the past, that number is nearly 3 million visitors down from the 2007 peak. Public policy (transport, training, encouraging  SMEs) will play a key role in shaping the future of tourism in Britain and the acknowledgement of this fact by David Cameron yesterday was widely welcomed by the British tourism industry. 

The responsibilities of Jeremy Hunt and the DCMS team are both broad and considerable - and the DCMS should no longer be seen as a ‘second tier’ department.  In less than two years time the world’s eyes will be on London as we host the Olympic Games which is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Britain and boost our tourism sector for years to come.  We can not afford to get it wrong. 

We all know that over 13 years the last Labour government spent huge sums of money and left us to deal with the biggest budget deficit in our peacetime history. But what we didn't know was just how wasteful they were with our money.

From wasting £12 billion on an NHS computer system that didn't work to kitting out regional fire offices with £6,000 luxury coffee-making machines, Labour showed complete contempt for taxpayers' money up and down this country.

Despite this reckless spending and waste, Labour remain in complete denial about their legacy. They blame the bankers, the recession, the global downturn - everyone and anyone - except themselves.

This video exposes some of the most shocking examples of Labour's legacy.

Labour's incompetent handling of our economy will hit all of our pockets. The cuts to come are Labour's cuts. So, it's only fair that the people responsible should share some of the pain. That's why, today, Baroness Warsi wrote to each of Labour's leadership candidates asking them to voluntarily give up their severance pay, worth £20,000 each. Forfeiting this pay would be the first step towards rehabilitation, and the first time they had come to terms with the mistakes of the past.

In the coming weeks and months, the Coalition will be making its own contributions to exposing the truth. We are going to shine a light on every aspect of Labour's total lack of respect for taxpayers' money. 

This is a big job, but the Coalition is determined to take the difficult and responsible decisions to get our country back on track.

Gavin Reid, the man who threw eggs at Baroness Warsi whilst visiting Luton last Novermber has been jailed for six weeks under the Public Order Act - for intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress.

Magistrate Elizabeth Roscoe said: "Throwing eggs goes beyond legitimate political protest and is quite clearly disorderly behaviour and it is also threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour."

I am pleased that the man accused of attacking the Baroness Warsi during her visit to Luton last year is in court this week.

Evidence is being given by local businessmen and party activisits who joined my family and I on the evening of 30th November 2009 to show the delightful Sayeeda Warsi around the Bury Park area.

A small handful of individuals decided to ruin the visit by shouting insults and throwing eggs at the Baroness who is now a member of the Cabinet and Conservative Party Chairman.

You may remember how incredibly dignified the Baroness was in dealing with the attackers.  Her conduct stood in stark contrast to the rude and offensive behaviour of her attackers.  But the vast majority of the local Muslim community came out in support of Baroness Warsi and condemned the attackers for not speaking in their name.

Personally, the evening was one of the least pleasant experiences of my campaign to become the MP for Luton South as my family were with me that night and I am personally angry that these men behaved in such a way in front of my wife and young children.  However, I am proud of the local community for soe quickly and clearly condemning the attack.

I think it was important that the case came to court to show that such behavious is not acceptable and not tolerated.

A BBC video clip of the Baroness handling the situation with great bravery and dignity can be found by clicking here.