'STANDING UP FOR SOUTH SHIELDS'

30 JUNE 2001

'All politics is local'. That was the first thought running through my head as I waited to give my first speech in the House of Commons on Monday. If policy ideas cannot work on the ground, then they are not worth having.

There was a second thought too. The Gazette are running a good campaign at the moment about the 'best of South Tyneside'. Let's face it: in Britain we are good at running ourselves down. But in South Tyneside, we have got a lot to shout about. There are big problems, but in the space of the election campaign I had literally hundreds of people tell me that they were South Shields born and bred, and that they wouldn't dream of living anywhere else.

So I wanted to use my 'maiden' speech to put on record the strengths of South Shields. I talked about our heritage of hard work and innovation; about the Port of the Tyne with over 1000 employees; about our primary schools with standards above the national average and our internationally recognised College; about our magnificent coastline and diverse, tolerant communities; and of course about Catherine Cookson and the arts scene at the Custom's House.

But I also talked about our potential in the future not just our achievements from the past. I am in Parliament to represent a constituency but also stand up for an ideal - the power of people working together to create a more equal, more productive country. Our biggest asset is our people; and the biggest waste is unemployment and poor education. They are my priorities.

South Tyneside has shipyard and engineering workers second to none; that's why it is so important that we work hard, with a helping hand from government, to ensure a vibrant future for the yards on the Tyne. But we in South Tyneside have to make ourselves part of a growing and changing Tyne and Wear economy. Jobs used to be on our doorstep; now more jobs require us to travel.

I am passionate about education because it is the future. Develop our skills - not just for children but for adults too - and we don't just learn more, but we give ourselves the chance to earn more. That is why I made one of my first visits as an MP to Brinkburn School last week, and talked about the power of education in my speech.

The Queen's Speech is a daunting occasion for a new MP. I don't mind admitting I was terrified! But Parliament is also a platform to speak up for local needs. We need to ensure that over the next four years, government gives us a helping hand, and then take advantage of the chances we are given.

So there is an opportunity, but also a responsibility. Opportunity that comes from a government determined to invest in South Tyneside and to support South Tyneside. But responsibility for all of us, whatever our role, to play our part in creating a prospering, safe and tolerant place to live. I'll play my part and I am sure you will play yours.

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I will be writing this column every two weeks. It is not a party political broadcast! I want to use this space to talk about local issues - the things I see and the people I meet, like the Nexus employees to whom I was honoured to present a national excellence award last week - and how central government can help us move the area forward. I will be out and about around the constituency, so if you want me to visit your workplace or your community group, please write to me at 143 Westoe Road, South Shields, NE33 3PD.