Rother Valley MP tells the Commons people will no longer be taken for granted

I had the great honour of delivering my maiden speech to the House of Commons thismonth.
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It was a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of Rother Valley and to talk about our beautiful area, as well as to outline its beliefs and values.

In my speech, I began by illustrating Rother Valley’s strong sense of what is just and fair by stating that it is right that this Government is stepping in to protect the most vulnerable in society by extending free school meals into the summer holidays.

Next, I highlighted the diversity of Rother Valley’s communities, from ancient settlements at Dinnington to historic houses at Firbeck and Aston, and from the country’s most important mines at Maltby and Thurcroft to the strong farming areas around Harthill, Hooton Levitt, and Roche Abbey.

Alexander Stafford, MP for Rother Valley. Photo: London Portrait Photographer-DAVAlexander Stafford, MP for Rother Valley. Photo: London Portrait Photographer-DAV
Alexander Stafford, MP for Rother Valley. Photo: London Portrait Photographer-DAV

I informed the House that you will never find more industrious, hard-working, family-loving or patriotic people than those across Rother Valley.

We are rightly proud of our history, heritage, and our culture.

Rother Valley is not a huge place, but I know that each and every constituent can change the world for the better.

We have done so before, and we will do so again.

Times have changed and so too in Rother Valley.

We look to a better, brighter future for our children and our children’s children.

Nevertheless, some things remain constant.

I espouse this continuity through the traditions of the Conservative Party – those of hard work, law and order, family values and Christian morals – all of which are timeless, classless, and ageless.

These are the values of Rother Valley, and they are the ones that inspire me.

These are the common values that bind this great nation together.

I proclaimed to the House that the people of Rother Valley now feel empowered.

Rather than being told what their lives are going to be like, or should be like, we have chosen a different path, a path where we will no longer be taken for granted and where our voices and our votes do matter.

Acknowledging that some voters lent me their vote for the first time at the last election, I spoke directly to them and promised that I will not let them down. We may have disagreements and different opinions, but the first and foremost job of an MP is to listen and that is what I shall do.

No more will people be neglected and forgotten.

For what matters is not the pomp and splendour, although traditions are very important.

It is the people that MPs represent, the beating heart of our nation who put us here and whose very presence we honour by being here.

I pledged that come what may, I will always be true to the people of Rother Valley as I know they will always be true to Britain.

Alexander Stafford is MP for Rother Valley.