My Maiden Speech

With a message to our young people

On Thursday 17 October, I had the honour of making my maiden speech in the House of Commons during a debate on the International Investment Summit.

I used this first speech to remind my fellow parliamentarians that while Buckingham, Bletchley, Tattenhoe, Winslow and the many wonderful villages in between are all different in character, they all have deep-rooted, rich histories. I feel very lucky to represent a constituency which has incredible institutions such as Bletchley Park and Silverstone.

I reflected that while each community I represent is unique, we all share common values, a deep sense of civic pride, patriotism, and a belief that opportunity should be available to everyone. I also promised to serve each and every person and part of my patch with the same diligence - be they urban and rural, and regardless of their size or affluence.

Change is happening, and there are so many opportunities ahead. I know that with the right level of domestic and international investment, my constituents' businesses and ideas can put us on the map again in this new innovation economy (and the East-West Rail link will place Bletchley and Winslow at the heart of the Oxford-Cambridge corridor).

I know what can be achieved if you are given the tools to succeed. If you'd told this council flat kid 25 years ago that he'd one day be speaking in Parliament as an MP, he wouldn't have believed it. That was why my final message in the speech was to every young person in my constituency: regardless of who your parents are, where you come from, or what you look like - never stop believing that if you work hard, anything in Britain is possible.