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Mon, 14 July 2025
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Articles tagged with: maiden speech
Maiden Voyages: Ashley Dalton
Political parties
By Patrick Kidd
Maiden Voyages: Ashley Dalton
Making a maiden speech can be daunting, but Ashley Dalton did not rise alone to make hers last month.
Maiden Voyages: Pre-Christmas debuts
Parliament
By Patrick Kidd
Maiden Voyages: Pre-Christmas debuts
In his occasional series, Patrick Kidd looks at maiden speeches of note.
Conference Voyages: Patrick Kidd on the Conservatives in Birmingham
Political parties
By Patrick Kidd
Conference Voyages: Patrick Kidd on the Conservatives in Birmingham
With the pound plunging, inflation soaring, an energy crisis brewing, trade unions striking and a Chancellor staking the government’s future on tax cuts and a dash for growth, Liz Truss faces a similar Conference challenge to Ted Heath 50 years ago. Maybe it’s time for David Cassidy to make a comeback as well.
Maiden Voyages: who goes first?
Parliament
By Patrick Kidd
Maiden Voyages: who goes first?
There is no prize for being the first member of a new parliamentary intake to make their maiden speech, though it may give an early inkling of someone eager for the limelight. Frank Dobson in 1979, Edwina Currie in 1983, David Blunkett in 1987 and David Laws in 2001 all went on to make a name for themselves. Colum Eastwood, the Kenny Keen of 2019, has much to follow.
Maiden Voyages: Commander Redvers Prior
Parliament
By Patrick Kidd
Maiden Voyages: Commander Redvers Prior
Theresa May was probably relieved, given her majority, that by-elections became a rarity when she was prime minister. There were just five from 2017 to 2019, the fewest in any parliament save the eight months between elections in 1974. Things are now getting back to normal
Maiden Voyages: Louie French
Parliament
By Patrick Kidd
Maiden Voyages: Louie French
In his occasional series, Patrick Kidd looks at maiden speeches of note
Maiden Voyages: Sir David Amess
Parliament
By Patrick Kidd
Maiden Voyages: Sir David Amess
Sir David Amess did not believe that new MPs should rush to make their maiden speech, calming the nerves by getting it out of the way when no one is looking. Rather, they should wait for an occasion with a decent audience. “The only time that the House will really listen to what honourable Members say is when they make their maiden speech,” the Southend MP said in 2001. “So I am not in favour of throwing that opportunity away when there is no one to listen to it.”
Maiden Voyages: Sarah King; Kim Leadbeater; Jill Mortimer
Political parties
By Patrick Kidd
Maiden Voyages: Sarah King; Kim Leadbeater; Jill Mortimer
In his occasional series, Patrick Kidd looks at maiden speeches of note.
Maiden Voyages: Austin Mitchell
Parliament
By Patrick Kidd
Maiden Voyages: Austin Mitchell
In his occasional series, Patrick Kidd looks at maiden speeches of note.
Maiden Voyages: Boris Johnson
History
By Patrick Kidd
Maiden Voyages: Boris Johnson
In his occasional series, Patrick Kidd looks at maiden speeches of note.
Maiden Voyages: Robin Millar and Anum Qaisar Javed
Political parties
By Patrick Kidd
Maiden Voyages: Robin Millar and Anum Qaisar Javed
In his occasional series, Patrick Kidd looks at maiden speeches of note.
Maiden Voyages – Eddie Hughes Takes Flight
Political parties
By Patrick Kidd
Maiden Voyages – Eddie Hughes Takes Flight
Continuing Patrick Kidd's series looking back at memorable maiden speeches...