He said:
‘It was a really special occasion for me to speak, for the first time, on behalf of the people of North East Hampshire. I was proud to draw a link between North East Hampshire and the Magna Carta. It was from the Castle in Odiham that King John rode to Runnymede to meet the Barons. The principles enshrined in the Magna Carta – the primacy of the rule of law, no taxation without representation, and the freedom of the English Church – were the first glimmers of human rights. With the 800th anniversary this year, it brings home the fact that we need to consider what can be done to protect our people from evil while balancing rights with responsibility. A former Prime Minister once said: “I am in politics because of the conflict between good and evil and I believe that in the end, good will triumph.” I am firmly of her opinion, and that is why I am here today.’
‘I got the chance to thank my predecessor, James Arbuthnot, for his service to the people of North East Hampshire for 15 years. He served this House and his constituency with enormous grace, skill, and dedication and it is a privilege to follow in his footsteps.
‘Once again, I thank my constituents for the strong mandate they have given me in electing me to serve them in Parliament.’