Yesterday afternoon, Simon Clarke, recently elected Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, gave his Maiden Speech to the House of Commons.
In his speech, Simon praised all the areas of the constituency from the southern suburbs of Middlesbrough to the seaside resort of Saltburn, telling the Commons:
"I am talking about Roseberry Topping, the beautiful hill that Cook climbed as a child; the North York Moors, to Scaling Dam and Cowbar; the East Cleveland coast, viewed from Brotton or from the hills above Skelton, with its thriving Victorian seaside resort of Saltburn; the prosperous market town of Guisborough; and the affluent southern suburbs of Middlesbrough itself."
He also used his speech to highlight the challenges facing Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, acknowledging the need to overcome hurdles regarding transport in the constituency, as well as pledging to be a voice for communities within it that have felt isolated and left behind.
Simon also paid tribute to the work done by his predecessors as Member of Parliament.
Read the full speech transcript by clicking here.
You can also watch Simon's swearing in as an MP here.