BOURNEMOUTH MP Tom Hayes has vowed to “fight to bring green investment” to the town in his maiden parliamentary speech.
The first Labour MP for Bournemouth East claimed that by investing in clean energy, the town can “thrive now and for decades to come”.
Mr Hayes is a former councillor on Oxford City Council and was the cabinet member for green transport and zero carbon.
He is credited as being the one who kick started the city’s plans to reduce its air pollution and traffic congestion and moving the council towards its zero carbon policy.
Mr Hayes told parliament on October 10: “Many will know Bournemouth for our hospitality and our education sectors, but we are also an important finance hub and home to growing life sciences, digital and green sectors.
“Indeed, our development of Bournemouth’s ability to generate clean energy, store it and power so many of the things that we rely on is a passion of mine and many others in our town.
“Having spent 10 years in local government with a particular focus on driving forward decarbonisation, I bring strong experience of delivery and will fight to bring green investment to our town so that we thrive now and for decades to come.
“The strength of our society is measured in its capacity to deal with shocks—we have seen plenty of those in recent years—but it is also measured in our ability to maintain our values.”
He said his and Bournemouth’s values are “caring equally for the health of all, regardless of income and background”.
Mr Hayes added: “Poverty is a systemic issue that needs big solutions: houses need building, healthcare needs re-establishing, education needs resurrecting.
“This is how we will make Bournemouth and Britain better and fairer. These are my values. These are the values of Bournemouth.
“Our town can and will do amazing things for the enduring benefit of generations to come, and I pledge to stand alongside my neighbours in making Bournemouth better.”
Salford-born Mr Hayes also used his maiden parliamentary speech to pay tribute to his predecessor Tobias Ellwood.
He recognised Mr Ellwood’s “heroic” efforts to save PC Keith Palmer’s life during the terror attack in Westminster in 2017.
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