World renowned naturalist Charles Darwin, Victorian statesman and prime minister Benjamin Disraeli and the picturesque Dingle in Shrewsbury’s Quarry park all got a mention from the town’s new Labour MP Julia Buckley, in her maiden speech in the House of Commons.
Railways, bus services, local businesses, and the River Severn were also featured in a wide-ranging speech which concluded with a moving tribute Jo Cox, the Labour MP who was murdered outside a library in West Yorkshire in 2016 and who was a personal friend of Mrs Buckley.
She began by telling the House: “I am delighted to contribute to this debate on our plans to introduce the Great British Railways and bring trains back into public ownership. Nowhere will these benefits be felt more keenly than in my own Constituency of Shrewsbury, where services are thin on the ground, lacking carriages and frequent or reliable services.
“Indeed, most residents and visitors to Shrewsbury would quickly conclude our town is a beauty spot with so much potential, cut off from the wider economic region by lack of robust public transport.
This is mirrored by our inadequate bus services, with over 5,000 routes cut since 2010.
“Shrewsbury is dreaming of a Sunday service or a bus after 6pm to support our young people and night-time economy. Public bus franchises will make a huge impact on so many lives.
We also have high hopes of the Midlands Connects plans to electrify the train route between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton to boost our capacity.”
Mrs Buckley went on to talk about working closely with MPs from neighbouring constituencies to tackle “the shared threat of flooding and compromised water quality” posed by issues facing the River Severn.
And she also touched on the rich history of the town and some of its key figures, saying Benjamin Disraeli was Shrewsbury’s Member of Parliament from 1841, “when he earned a reputation as both witty and able, before going on to twice become Prime Minister, and to decriminalise the work of Trade Unions.”
She said: “Shrewsbury is well steeped in history and we have many famous sons, but none are more well-known than Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, who was born and raised in Shrewsbury. “From the age of eight he attended Shrewsbury School as a boarder, in the building which has since become our town library and where a statue commemorates his contribution to learning. We are delighted that his family home on The Mount is finally being converted into an International Visitor attraction to celebrate his work.”
Mrs Buckley praised Shrewsbury as one of the country’s finest medieval market towns.
Today it boasts “regular farmers markets brimming with local producers; agricultural life stock markets and our award-winning indoor market, which grows from strength to strength with late night events and live music – winning “Britain’s Favourite Market” no less than three times.”
“The Wyle Cop, which climbs the steep hill from the English Bridge up to the town square, is reported to host more independent shops than any other street in the country. With the support of Shrewsbury BID and chambers of commerce, I can see why we are so lucky to have such a wide range of producers and traders.
“There are beautiful riverside walks and cycle paths, pedestrian bridges and the jewel in our crown: the Quarry park along the river with Percy Thrower’s famous sunken gardens in the dingle, and where the Shropshire Horticultural Society hosts its annual flower show.
“With such well-kept beauty and heritage charm it’s easy to see why Shrewsbury attracts so many visitors each year, boosted by our array of cultural festivals including the Folk Festival; food festival, Darwin festival, the County Show at the West Mids Show Ground and Loopfest.
“But we also welcome gentle sustainable tourism from those who come to walk in the Shropshire Hills; Kayak down the River, or take a leisurely cruise on our tour boat, the Sabrina. I am sure members listening are already planning to book their next visit, and I will be happy to oblige with a guided tour for any who make it!”
Mrs Buckley then turned to her own background and how she came to be friends with Jo Cox.
“I am the daughter of a coalminer, whose pit was closed in 1986 and who never worked again. I was 12 years old when this affected our family and our community, and that’s when my interest in politics was first ignited.
“As an adult, I was fortunate to win a scholarship for my PhD in EU policy. I worked in the European Parliament in Brussels for five years, specialising in regional investment funding to tackle inequality.
Whilst I was there, I made friends with the chirpy young woman in the next-door office, another Northern lass passionate about politics, Jo Leadbeater, who later became Jo Cox.
“We ran the New York marathon together in 2001 with Suzy Sumner as the Northern Lasses. We were so proud of Jo when she became an MP and how, with her usual style of tiggerish enthusiasm and charm, she would persuade everyone towards her policy aims.
“All the more reason why her death was so difficult to comprehend; a senseless loss of someone so sincere and positive. Jo never shied away from standing up for what she believed in, what really mattered, however unpopular or difficult. She never said she was too tired or too busy; she just got on and fought for what was important, with a winning smile.
“Jo inspired me back into politics. After realising that life is too short and precious to wait for other people to solve problems, I decided to “be more like Jo” and within the week I had re-joined my local Labour Party, became a town, then county councillor and ultimately Leader of Shropshire Labour Group. I stood as the parliamentary candidate for this seat in 2019 and returned this year to win and become the MP.
“Thanks in no small measure to the support of my husband John and patience of my children Annabel and Edward.
“May I take this moment to conclude by saying to Jo and to her sister Kim, that finally the Northern Lasses are reunited in this place.”