Guildford’s New MP Makes Her Maiden Speech

Published on: 11 Sep, 2024
Updated on: 13 Sep, 2024

Zoe Franklin making her maiden speech as an MP

By Martin Giles

Guildford’s new MP Zöe Franklin made her maiden speech in Parliament this afternoon during a general debate on building safety and resilience.

Traditionally, maiden speeches are not aggressively political with new MPs usually thanking their predecessor. Ms Franklin followed this convention and named not one but three former MPs: Anne Milton and Angela Richardson, thanking them for their service, as well as Sir Paul Beresford, part of whose former Mole Valley constituency is now included within the Guildford Parliamentary boundary.

Wearing ears of corn to mark British Farming Day and sitting in front of her fellow Lib Dem MP Will Forster from neighbouring Woking, she featured several themes: building safety and poverty, asking fellow MPs to “work together across this house, to level the playing field to provide equality of safety for all in this country”; her election and commitment to serve all her constituents; that she had been elected because Guildford voters had said “enough is enough” after 14 years of Tory rule.

Ms Franklin hoped that her colleagues would agree that “over three million people across the UK relying on food banks alone in 2023-24 is a disgrace”.

Giving a brief outline of Guildford’s origins, she reminded those listening that the town “is now a modern hub of innovation, once often referred to as the Hollywood of the computer gaming industry, and home to many high tech businesses at the cutting edge of Envirotech, defence, space and more”.

Remarking on the natural beauty of Guildford and its surroundings, she focused on the River Wey saying: “The levels of pollution being recorded in our river, month after month, are disgusting.” She promised to champion the cause of cleaning up the country’s rivers.

Referring to her study of music at the University of Surrey, she observed that harmony was important and it was her sincere hope that together MPs can “create a symphony of voices, change the divisive rhetoric of the last few years and restore public trust in politics and politicians.”

“If we do not,” she said, “I worry about the future we leave for future generations.”

She ended by thanking her family for their support in the last campaign and over the years.

The following is a transcript of Zoe Franklin’s whole speech.

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for this opportunity to make my maiden speech but before I do, I would like to congratulate the Hon Members for Bromley and Biggin Hill and Caldwell Valley for your excellent speeches. I have a real flavour of your constituents and our constituencies and your constituents.

In fact, today’s debate highlights, once again, the wider issue of building safety and poverty. The safety of your building where you house yourself and your family should not be subject to your economic status, and we must together across this house, work to level the playing field, to provide equality of safety for all in this country. There is clearly much work to be done to achieve this, and I am grateful to the Minister for noting that we will have an opportunity to further discuss this issue at a future date.

It is with immense pride that I can say that in July, on my third attempt, I was elected to represent the residents of Guildford constituency, the place that has been my home for the past 25 years.

In my speech at the count following my election, I made a commitment to my residents that I would be an MP for everyone in my constituency, including those whose voices for too long have gone unheard. And I want to reiterate that promise today. I first stood for elected office in 2008 driven by a love for my community and a deep frustration that my area of Bellfields and Slyfield was being failed by the Conservatives.

I dedicated myself to helping those at risk of losing their homes, working on community projects and being the voice of my community, fighting for change in the council chamber. Sixteen years later, I’m here in this chamber because of my frustration following 14 years of Conservative failure that has once again left communities across Guildford and the whole country struggling.

I’m also here because the people of Guildford felt that too. They said enough is enough, and felt that I could be their voice for change in this great chamber. I am honoured by the trust that they have placed in me.

We are here as MPs to serve our residents, our constituencies and our country, and I hope this will always be at the forefront of our minds as we fulfil our work as MPs, and particularly as we speak in this chamber and as we vote.

Speaking of service, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank my predecessors, Angela Richardson and Anne Milton and Sir Paul Beresford, who is part of his constituency, also came into Guildford constituency at the election between Angela and Anne. They served Guildford its residents and businesses with determination for 14 years, and I want to thank them on behalf of their constituents, of our constituents.

But now on to my wonderful constituency of Guildford. Guildford is an ancient town. The earliest human activity in the area was in the Mesolithic era. It’s mentioned in Alfred the Great’s will from 880 AD. Its name, Guildford, means Golden Ford, which comes from its golden banks at the river crossing below St Catherine’s Chapel.

But it was not the only golden watermark in this election in June, we saw a golden tide of Liberal Democrat MPs, 72 elected across the country, six of us in Surrey. This victory is a message of change for our country, and I am very much looking forward to work with my fellow lived in MPs, particularly on the issues of SEND and Thames Water.

As an MP, I am especially committed to addressing the cost of living crisis that is continuing to push too many into poverty, trapped by crisis, not of their own making. We must lift people out of hardship, ensuring that everyone has access to the services they need without draining their pockets.

I am sure that across this chamber, colleagues will agree that over three million people across the UK relying on food banks alone in 2023-24 is a disgrace. It is a blight on our country, and it must end.

Guildford, though, is a not only a historical town, but a modern hub of innovation, once often referred to as the Hollywood of the computer gaming industry, and home to many high tech businesses at the cutting edge of Envirotech, defence, space and more.

Our town is a tech hub that draws on the legacy of our constituency, of Ada Lovelace, the mother of computing, who lived at Horsley Towers in my constituency for many years, and of Alan Turing, whose childhood home was in Guildford, and whose genius we continue to honour through The Alan Turing Institute at my alma mater, the University of Surrey.

My constituency is also blessed with breathtaking natural beauty, the stunning RHS Wisley to the Surrey Hills and to our many National Trust properties, including the River Wey Navigation, which they also manage.

As MP, I am committed to balancing the continued evolution and success of my town and surrounding villages with the protection of the natural beauty of my constituency for generations to come. That is why I will be championing in this house the cause of cleaning up our rivers. The River Wey, which flows through the heart of Guildford town and through our villages to the east of my constituency, has been the lifeblood of Guildford for centuries. It is central to Guildford’s identity, its history, residence, leisure time and its future.

The levels of pollution being recorded in our river, month after month, are disgusting and it is impacting the health of nature, animals and residents. It is time to clean up our rivers and bring to an end the stories I too often hear on the doorstep of residents becoming unwell after going in the water.

Just one example: I met a coach of a children’s cricket team earlier this year, who shared how in 2023 his young team went for an end of season celebratory dip in the River Wey. Every single one of those children became ill after going in the river.

Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to end with two final thoughts. My first comes from my time studying music at the University of Surrey. It taught me the importance of harmony, both in art and in life.

It is my sincere hope that together in this chamber over the coming years, we can create a symphony of voices, change the divisive rhetoric of the last few years and restore public trust in politics and politicians. If we do not, I worry about the future we leave for future generations.

And finally, I want, to express my deepest gratitude to my friends and family and particularly my husband Chris and my sons Reuben and Josh, who have supported me every step of this journey to this place and continue to walk it with me. Without their love and encouragement and occasional campaigning skills, I would not be here today. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.