New MPs make Commons debut

By Tony Grew - 7th June 2010

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Dozens of new members made their maiden speeches in the House of Commons last week.

Robert Halfon (Con, Harrow) told MPs it had taken him 10 years and three elections to get into Parliament during Wednesday's debate on health and education.

"Although I am the first Halfon to serve as a Member of Parliament, I am not the first to have a role in British politics," he said.

"I understand that my ancestor Isaac Halfon, who was an expert on divorce legalities, was called on by King Henry VIII to discover the status of Judaic law regarding the King's proposed divorce from Catherine of Aragon."

Duncan Hames (Lib Dem, Chippenham) told the House that family wealth makes "a massive difference" to the educational outcomes achieved by children.

"There are some excellent schools serving communities in less well-off areas, but it simply is not good enough for so many families to find that accessing a good education for their children is dependent on their faith, on paying fees, or on being able to afford a home in an expensive catchment area. Every school should be a good school," he said.

Gavin Shuker (Lab/Co-op, Luton South) told the House he is proud to represent his home town.

"My Christian faith confirms in me the conviction that we are fundamentally designed to operate in co-operation and not merely in competition; that not just some but all have inherent worth and value; that tackling inequality is not merely a political concern, but a moral one; and, also, that there is more to life than politics," he said.

Dr Sarah Wollaston (Con, Totnes) spoke about TB.

"As a doctor, I have to tell Members that we cannot treat infected badgers by vaccination," she said.

"Vaccination can only hope to prevent the disease in unaffected individuals. Unless we do something about bovine TB, more and more of our farmers will go out of business."

Emma Reynolds (Lab, Wolverhampton North East) paid tribute to the "powerful women" who represented the town in the past.

"The journalist and activist, Renée Short, who represented the constituency for more than two decades until her retirement in 1987; and Jennie Lee.

"Jennie was a firebrand socialist and a passionate defender of the poorest in society. She blazed a trail that many other women would follow-and I, too, hope to follow that trail."

Charlotte Leslie (Con, Bristol North West) admitted she is "slightly intimidated" by the formalities of the House.

"Breaking down the terrible and invisible barriers that divide the haves from the have-nots will not be easy, but I am delighted that one thing on which the coalition rests is the pupil premium," she said.

Gavin Barwell (Con, Croydon Central) said he has lived in the areas since he was a child.

"There is no getting away from the fact that Croydon has an image problem, a reputation for rather unwelcoming 1960s architecture, and for crime and antisocial behaviour," he said.

"Those two problems aside, Croydon has much going for it."

Chuka Umunna (Lab, Streatham) said he was the first Streatham MP to have been born in the constituency.

"More than 35 per cent of the population is, like me, from an ethnic minority, and there is also a big socio-economic mix, with the north of the constituency being quite inner-city in nature, and the south being more suburban," he said.

"Like much of London, next to pockets of great wealth can be found areas of great deprivation."

Cathy Jamieson (Lab/Co-op, Kilmarnock and Loudoun) told the House about the importance of the co-operative movement.

"Mutually owned and run care co-operatives are already providing more responsive services, and the principles of co-operation are taking root in many of our schools," she said.

"I hope that the new Government will take account of those values and principles as they move forward rather than simply trying to rely on private sector solutions that have failed in the past."

Neil Carmichael (Con, Stroud) claimed his constituency is the most beautiful in the country.

"I am a farmer myself, and it is an important part of the constituency," he said.

"We have big and small dairy farms, all of which are vulnerable to TB and struggling with the price of milk and so forth, so the House can expect that I shall be a steadfast supporter of agriculture."

Luciana Berger (Lab/Co-op, Liverpool Wavertree) asked the health secretary to honour the guarantee that he made in March to rebuild the Royal Liverpool hospital.

"The scheme is so important, not only to sustain the provision of high-quality health care for all the people of Liverpool, including many in my constituency, but also because it will be the catalyst for sustaining growth in the economic renaissance of Liverpool, with the creation of a globally excellent, biomedical science campus," she said.

David Ward (Lib Dem, Bradford East) told MPs he has 26 years experience as a city councillor.

"Nothing, but nothing, compares with deprivation as the overwhelming determinant of a pupil's academic success and later, sadly, their prospects for employment, mental health, physical health and life expectancy. In education, class really does matter."

Lisa Nandy (Lab, Wigan) said her constituents "get sick earlier and die younger".

"There is a generation of children and young people in my constituency who are expecting us to succeed, and there are older generations who have worked tirelessly for just that. We must do the same in this House, because we cannot afford to fail."

Heather Wheeler (Con, South Derbyshire) said her constituency has been represented in the past by "colourful MPs" such as George Brown and Edwina Currie.

"One glaring omission from the services that we have in South Derbyshire is a college," she told the House.

"All our residents have to travel for full-time further education, and there is an opportunity for us to do better for my residents."

Paul Blomfield (Lab, Sheffield Central) said it is a "special privilege to represent the city that is my home, although my son would be the first to point out that I do not really count as a Sheffielder because, unlike him, I was not born and bred there".

"He would say that I am an incomer because I first moved to the city at the age of nine," he explained.

Christopher Pincher (Con, Tamworth) told the House his constituency is in one of the poorest-funded local education authorities in the country.

"Only if we give head teachers more power and more money to spend on their schools as they see fit, and only if we give teachers the time and the space to teach, which is what they want to do, will we drive up educational standards and improve the morale of the teaching profession," he said.

Valerie Vaz (Lab, Walsall South) revealed there has been some confusion as to her relationship with veteran Labour MP Keith Vaz.

"Some Members think I am his daughter, while others think I am his wife.

"Thankfully, no one has suggested yet that I look like his mother, but that may be to come. For the record, I am his sister, and I have had congratulations and commiserations in equal numbers for that."

Simon Wright (Lib Dem, Norwich South) said that as a former teacher, he wants "the best deal possible" for schools.

"I am delighted that front-line school funding will be protected, and that the new pupil premium will provide greater support for children from disadvantaged backgrounds," he said.

Stella Creasy (Lab/Co-op, Walthamstow) said her constituency is "not a community short on ambition"

"I contend that because Walthamstow has always been full of people like that, our area has played a key and yet too often unacknowledged part in shaping the lives of everyone in this Chamber," she said.

Gordon Henderson (Con, Sittingbourne and Sheppey) said being an MP is a great responsibility.

"I want to be a true parliamentarian, holding the executive to account and representing without fear or favour those who sent me here," he said.

Owen Smith (Lab, Pontypridd) said the Tory/Lib Dem coalition's policies will have long-term impacts on his constituents.

"In particular, I refer to the so-called efficiency savings that the Government are achieving through abolishing the future jobs fund and axing the baby bonds, policies that were proving popular and effective in my constituency," he said.

Stephen Twigg (Lab/Co-op, Liverpool West Derby) made his second maiden speech on Wednesday – he was MP for Enfield Southgate from 1997 to 2005.

"As we consider the Government's school reforms in more detail, I suggest three tests against which we should judge them: will they support improved teaching and learning; will they encourage better leadership at all levels; and will they promote fairness both in admissions and in school funding," he said.

During Thusday's debate on foreign affairs, 15 MPs made their Commons debut.

Mark Garnier (Con, Wyre Forest) told the House he is neither a Europhile nor a Europhobe, "but a Euro-realist".

"I feel that we are where we are on Europe," he said.

"As someone newly elected to Parliament, I deplore the creeping nature of legislation that comes not from this place but from Brussels. I welcome the coalition's proposed referendum lock, and I will always stand firm against joining the euro."

Simon Kirby (Con, Brighton Kemptown) said he is honoured to represent ansd "exciting, diverse and happening place".

"Brighton has a large lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, and I am proud and honoured to have the opportunity to represent it and the constituency in Parliament," he said.

Alison McGovern (Lab, Wirral South) said culture is a driver of economic growth.

"In the coalition agreement, the Government made great play of returning to the original four good causes of national lottery funding," she told the House.

"We will have a debate in due course about whether that is the right approach, but lottery funding for capital projects is no substitute for core public funds, on which the arts in this country are built."

Julian Sturdy (Con, York Outer) said it is a "huge privilege" to represent a newly-created seat.

"York Outer is a ring around the city of York, taking in all the villages and communities on the edge of our great Yorkshire city; in essence, it is a doughnut seat, I think the only one in the country," he said.

"I realise that I am going to have to watch my weight over the coming years, as the connotations could be a problem."

Catherine McKinnell (Lab, Newcastle upon Tyne North) said EU membership has brought benefits to her constituents through the European regional development fund.

"All ERDF is time-limited, and expenditure delayed because of uncertainty around administrative arrangements or the inability to raise match funding will almost certainly be lost," she said.

"The north-east missed out time and time again before One NorthEast was created, and we will not stand by and watch our region go backwards because of an ideological opposition to an interventionist economic approach."

Julie Elliott (Lab, Sunderland Central) said offshore wind farm production could bring jobs to her area.

"The skills needed to develop this area of work are the same as those required in our historic industries," she said.

"Turbines and offshore windmills are going to be built somewhere. There is a huge market for them, not only in the UK but throughout Europe. In areas such as Sunderland, where jobs are needed, it is important that we attract new industries such as these."

Dan Byles (Con, North Warwickshire) said he would champion local issues.

"In addition, there are a number of national issues that I plan to champion during my time in the House, issues on which I know from the doorsteps I have the support of my constituents," he said.

"One such issue is the welfare of our soldiers and their families, and in particular the issue of mental health care and rehabilitation for veterans and reservists."

Lilian Greenwood (Lab, Nottingham South) told the House that planned cuts could pitch her constituents into a situation similar to the 1980s.

"My constituents do not want a return to those times, and it is my duty and responsibility to ensure that their voice is heard, their questions are answered, and their hopes and aspirations are met," she said.

Andrew Bridgen (Con, North West Leicestershire) paid tribute to his predecessor, the late David Taylor.

"Our constituency is a far lesser place for his passing, and it is a privilege to be here in his stead," he said.

Bill Esterson (Lab, Sefton Central) revealed he is not the first member of his family to make a speech in this Chamber.

"My granddad was an electrician, and after the war he worked on the rebuilding of this Chamber," he said.

"A number of the Polish workers who had served in the forces were also employed on the same work, and when the British workers, who were all strong trade unionists, discovered that the Polish workers were being paid less, they organised a meeting in this very Chamber. My granddad, as the shop steward, made the first speech in the newly refurbished Chamber."

Mike Weatherley (Con, Hove) told the House he is a fan of rock and heavy metal.

"A few years ago I rashly pledged that I would be the first Member to wear an Iron Maiden T-shirt in the Chamber, so, Mr Deputy Speaker, I may be in touch soon to see how I can deliver that promise without breaking too many rules," he said.

Grahame M Morris (Lab, Easington) said the lasting legacy of coal mining in Easington is tarnished by "joblessness and economic activity that followed the reckless actions of previous Tory administrations".

"I hope this coalition Government will consider seriously the policies of the previous Labour Government, which harnessed the resources of the state to encourage the creation of new businesses and the expansion of businesses," he said.

Gareth Johnson (Con, Dartford) said the EU benefits from Britain's membership.

"We should resist unnecessary interference from the European Union, which should not seek to interfere with every facet of our lives," he told MPs.

"We need individuals to have greater freedoms over their lives and for this House to have the freedom to operate without further subservience to the European Union."

Charlie Elphicke (Con, Dover) said immigration is of huge concern to his constituents.

"We want to ensure that we have proper border security and national security," he said.

"We want to ensure that the "jungle" in Calais is dealt with, not simply because we are concerned about the number of people there, but because we are concerned about the children there, who are living in terrible conditions."

Brandon Lewis (Con, Great Yarmouth) said his constituents are well-placed to profit from green energy.

"A new wind farm is coming, and there is the local potential to exploit marine energy and other renewables because we have the necessary experience and expertise," he told the House.