Rarely do we reprint a speech in its entirety, but in the case of the maiden speech of the new MP for Norwich North, I am making an exception. Having taken her seat on Monday, she confidently delivered the speech to the Commons this afternoon during an Opposition Day debate on Higher Education.
This is what she told the chamber:
"Madam Deputy Speaker, I am grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to take part in this Opposition Day debate to make my maiden speech. As this is my first speech I would like to pay tribute to Dr Ian Gibson, the previous Member for Norwich North. He was a dedicated constituency member whose tradition of independence and plain speaking I hope to emulate. He was known locally for his work on science as, I understand, he also was here in the House, and for sticking up for the people. Although I don’t enter this place as a scientist, I certainly intend to stick up for all of my constituents.
There has been a Norwich North seat since 1950 but the city of Norwich has been represented in Parliament since 1298. I am proud of Norwich North, with its one foot in the city of Norwich and its other foot in surrounding parishes and beautiful Broadland. We have a history stretching back to Roman times, and colleagues in this House may already be familiar with Norwich’s trading prominence in the intervening centuries. We are known for industries that have included chocolate and mustard, wool and shoes, financial services and now modern technologies including biotechnology and engineering. We have a high proportion of small and medium sized firms and I applaud all those in Norwich who choose to take a risk and build their own business.
Norwich also has cultural prominence. Underpinning our current vibrant arts scene, we can also claim the writing in English – Middle English to be more specific for any other students of literature in the House – of the first book by a woman. On the political side, movements have often gathered on Mousehold Heath in my constituency, including the Chartists 170 years ago and Robert Kett’s followers before that.
We may also be known for the Canaries’ best efforts to stay up the leagues. Norwich City Football Club is currently prospering in Division One. Given that the last full match I saw in person resulted in Norwich losing 7-1 at home to Colchester I think that in the interests of the club it may be wise for me to stay away until promotion is well and truly secured. Of course, for any real aficionados of Norfolk’s footballing heritage, I draw hope from a reputed draw with Arsenal by the village Football Club of Thorpe St Andrew – only as recently as 1894. It remains a shame to this day that the Parish could not afford to pay the travel costs for the match replay in London.
Thorpe St Andrew is but one of the parishes which, in addition to its fine urban history, give present day Norwich North so much of its character. Sprowston, according to local sources, is the largest parish in Norfolk. I look forward to receiving letters claiming otherwise which I shall happily forward to the parish council. Old Catton can claim further cultural merit. It has, in Catton Hall, the location of the first commission for landscaping by Humphrey Repton. Old Catton’s history exemplifies the tradition of independence in the people of Norfolk, amongst whom I count myself. The parish had, according to local historians, I quote: “a high proportion of freemen in the Domesday record which is typical of Norfolk”.
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