The new MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire has pledged to stand up for small businesses and the self-employed. Olivia Bailey made the promise as she gave her maiden speech in Parliament on Thursday, September 12. Traditionally, this allows MPs an opportunity to talk about their constituency, their predecessors and their personal political journey.
Elected to the new seat in July, the Labour politician shared with her fellow MPs some highlights of the constituency including from Tilehurst, which she said “has always been a place of skilled labour”. She reminded Parliament of the role the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) has. “My constituency also has a proud history of defending our great country,” she said, adding: “I am really proud of the work that my constituents do there, and I will always support our nuclear deterrent.
” The speech also highlighted the villages including Pangbourne, Basildon, Streatley, Yattendon, Compton, East and West Ilsley, Mortimer and Frilsham. She joked: “Eyebrows were raised when I asked one of my activists to take a trip to the hamlet called World’s End. “Thankfully, they were met with beauty rather than eternal doom.
” There was praise for her predecessor in the old Reading West seat, wishing Sir Alok Sharma well “in the other place” – how the House of Commons refers to the House of Lords. “He was a good constituency MP, held in high regard by many locally,” she said. “He was also a tireless campaigner in the battle against climate change, most notably as president of COP26.
” Ms Bailey also thanked another former Reading West MP, Martin Salter, who she said was a “passionate campaigner for the protection of our waterways”. Ms Bailey also thanked former Newbury MP Laura Farris and ex-Wokingham MP Sir John Redwood for their work in other parts of the constituency. There was also praise for her parents: “I have spent my career trying to honour their contributions,” she said, highlighting her father’s work with the police while mentioning the health of her mother.
“My political flame ...
burns most fiercely as I hold the hand of my mum, being taken from me by Alzheimer’s while being let down by the state,” she told Parliament. She also said that, as MP, she would be a servant: “In the years I have in this place I hope to continue the hard work and dedication of the many men and women who, little by little, have fought for change.” Responding, Sir Julian Lewis, Conservative MP for New Forest East, said: “It is daunting to undertake a maiden speech but she did so with panache and passion.
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