Dominic Raab, the new MP for Esher and Walton (and author of the excellent The Assault on Liberty: What Went Wrong with Rights) set out his stall as the civil libertarian-in-chief among the new intake in his maiden speech yesterday: "There is much to cheer in the coalition Government’s programme, and in particular the commitment […]
Jacob Rees-Mogg, who won Somerset North East at the general election, used his maiden speech last night to eloquently note three historical figures from his constituency whom he says will serve as an inspiration in his political life: "Alfred the Great, we must remember, in 678 AD, had just Somerset left, with the Danes all […]
Three newly-elected barristers all delivered maiden speeches during yesterday's debate on the Queen's Speech which highlighted the failures of criminal justice policy under the previous Labour Government. Robert Buckland, who gained Swindon South, lamented "the gap between political rhetoric and the sad reality of what is happening in our system today: "We have confused legislative […]
Mike Weatherley, who won Hove from Labour at the election, used his maiden speech last Thursday to celebrate the local contribution to the British music and film industries: “I come to politics from a background in film and music, and I shall channel my passion for each into supporting local talent. It is no secret […]
Further to Andrew Bridgen’s speech, which I noted earlier, there were four more maiden speeches which addressed the European issue in last Thursday’s debate. Mark Garnier, who gained Wyre Forest from the Independent MP Richard Taylor, said he ”could be persuaded“ of the case for coming out of Europe: “I was keen to speak in […]
Andrew Bridgen won the Leicestershire North West constituency at the general election – a seat which he claimed in his maiden speech during a debate on European affairs last Thursday was the embodiment of “middle England”. Deploying humour to good effect, he made a fluent case against giving further powers to Brussels: “We are here […]
Charlie Elphicke gained Dover at the general election and used his maiden speech during a debate on European affairs to raise issues close to his constituency’s heart: “We in Dover are, of course, used to visitors. One of our earliest recorded visits was in 55 BC by Julius Caesar; he caught an early ferry from […]
Dan Byles won Warwickshire North at the general election and used his first contribution in the chamber last Thursday to raise an issue about which he clearly cares very passionately: “I had the privilege of serving for some nine years with the Royal Army Medical Corps as a medical support officer. Indeed, I served on […]
Totnes’s new MP, Sarah Wollaston – a GP and the first Conservative candidate to have been selected by an all-postal primary – used her maiden speech last week to support the minimum pricing of alcohol (a proposal which Health Secretary Andrew Lansley had reportedly rejected that very morning): “After the tragedy of the Paddington rail […]
Of the new Conservative MPs elected at the general election, eight won their seats at the third time of asking, having valiantly fought unsuccessful campaigns in 2001 and 2005 before ousting sitting Labour MPs last month. Two of those eight gave their maiden speeches during the debate on the Queen's Speech last Wednesday. Harlow's Robert […]
The Queen’s Speech debate on Education and Health last Wednesday saw an especially memorable maiden speech from Paul Maynard, the newly-elected Conservative MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys. Apart from paying tribute to his predecessor and talking proudly of his constituency, he spoke with passion – and from personal experience – about the need to […]
Two MPs who got elected at their third successive attempt emphasised the importance of localism in their maiden speeches last Thursday. The new MP for Enfield North, Nick de Bois, expressed his ambition to become "the No. 1 salesman" for his constituency before touching on his principle theme: "The localism that is evident from the […]
I have already noted three pro-nuclear power maiden speeches from Thursday's debate on the Queen's Speech. Two further newly-elected Conservative MPs making their Commons debuts spoke favourably about nuclear power in speeches discussing energy policy: Peter Aldous, who gained Waveney from Labour and Chris Heaton-Harris, the former MEP who steps into Tim Boswell's shoes in […]
Among the maiden speeches delivered by new Conservative MPs last Thursday were several which included particularly impassioned defences of nuclear power. Damian Collins, who is filling the boots of Michael Howard as MP for Folkestone and Hythe, explained his particular constituency interest in nuclear energy, given that it contains the Dungeness power station: "My constituents […]