New MP makes maiden speech in House of Commons
NEWLY elected parliamentarian Alex Easton has appealed to the British government to ‘help improve my constituents’ lives’ as he delivered his maiden speech in the House of Commons.
The new North Down MP took to his feet for the first time at Westminster highlighting major local issues such as a lack of city centre redevelopment and social housing, poor roads and inadequate GP access.
He combined moments of levity with personal heartbreak as he paid tribute to his parents, Alec and Ann Easton, who were in their 80s when they tragically both died in a house fire last year.
Beginning his speech he invited ‘everyone to visit North Down’, hailing his constituency as ‘the best part of the United Kingdom to live, work and invest in’ but quipped ‘maybe not all at once, though’.
He expressed his ‘heartfelt gratitude’ to the North Down electorate, pledging ‘before God to serve them to the best of my ability’ and that ’I will always put you first’.
He went on to thank his predecessor, the Alliance Party’s Dr Stephen Farry for his work during his term in office and wished him ‘every success in his future endeavours’.
Speaking from the green benches, the Independent Unionist stated ‘not all is well in my constituency’ saying Queen’s Parade had been ‘lying derelict for decades’ and voiced concerns as the recent closure of Bangor’s Minor Injuries Unit and the pending closure of Bangor PSNI station’s enquiry office.
“People in my constituency cannot see their GP and the roads are full of potholes,” he said. “There is a lack of social housing and new starter homes for young families who want to start on the housing ladder.”
Appealing to the House of Commons, Mr Easton said: “I really hope that this government will help to improve my constituents’ lives.”
Describing himself as a ‘proud Ulsterman’, the North Down MP hit out at the Northern Ireland Protocol describing it as ‘fundamentally flawed’ saying: “It needs to be changed. It needs to go.”
He criticised the ‘defacto border in the Irish Sea’ saying it had led to ‘increased bureaucracy, hurdles and trade barriers, disrupting economic stability and supply chains’.
Mr Easton stated that ‘prioritising the EU’s regulatory framework over the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland to be a full part of the UK, the protocol disregards democratic principles and subjects us to foreign laws’.
Bringing his maiden speech to a close, Mr Easton was close to tears as he spoke about his parents.
“My mum and dad were killed in a fire at their home in Bangor last year, and it caused a lot of heartache for me,” he said.
“When you have everything taken away from you like that, it makes you realise just how important your family are. It makes you see everything that you have taken for granted throughout your life, such as the health service, which has always been there for us.
“I appreciate the people in the health service and the Police Service of Northern Ireland who tried to help my mum and dad – I so much appreciate you.
“I also pay tribute to the Northern Ireland Fire Service, who did everything in their power to help my mum and dad. I just want to let you know that I appreciate everything you have done for my family. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”
