Jane Stevenson, MP for Wolverhampton North East, has made her maiden speech in the House of Commons.
Speaking during the debate on the Government’s Environment Bill yesterday (26th February), Jane said she was “deeply honoured to come to this place to represent my home city of Wolverhampton – the city in the Black Country.”
She spoke about the city’s industrial heritage and the success of the i54 business park, which is home to major companies such as Jaguar Land Rover and Moog. She also spoke about the lack of green space in her constituency, with parts of surrounding South Staffordshire under pressure from housing needs and green spaces in Bushbury and Fallings Park already earmarked by the council for development.
But Jane urged local authority leaders to build on brownfield land first. She said: “Our West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has shown that brownfield sites can be successfully made viable for housing. A ‘brownfield first’ policy would protect the green spaces to the north of my constituency, near Linthouse Lane in Wednesfield, and in Bushbury by the wonderfully named Cat and Kittens Lane.”
Jane went on the praise the hundreds of volunteers in Wolverhampton North East, such as litter pickers and street watch teams, as well as those who volunteer at New Cross Hospital and at churches, gurdwaras and community groups.
Referring to the Environment Bill debate in which she made her maiden speech, Jane highlighted the success of Wednesfield in Bloom, a community gardening project in Wednesfield. She said: “The St Thomas’ Church, the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, schools and local businesses; everyone comes together to plant the most beautiful displays across Wednesfield and Ashmore Park. They have already won several awards and will be competing in the national finals of Britain in Bloom this year. I wish them every success.”
Paying tribute to her predecessor as Wolverhampton North East MP, Emma Reynolds, Jane said: “Emma was elected in 2010 and held several shadow ministerial roles. Widely respected as a moderate and principled member of her party, she spoke with balance and reason. I know her qualities will be greatly missed on the Labour benches.”
Jane ended her maiden speech by talking about “the greatest football team on earth – Wolverhampton Wanderers.” She said: “Football runs deep in our veins, and although our city’s official motto is ‘Out of darkness cometh light’, our unofficial motto is ‘Wim Wolves, ay we’!”
