West Bromwich MP gives maiden speech and says Sandwell is 'a place that feels left behind'

Nicola Richards became the first-ever Conservative MP in West Bromwich East when she took the seat from Labour in December’s general election.

And she used her maiden speech in the House of Commons to deliver a stark warning to Labour-dominated Sandwell Council, suggesting the Tories were ready to take seats in the borough at May’s local authority elections.

Ms Richards told MPs that trust in politicians in Sandwell had hit “rock bottom” in recent years, with the Brexit gridlock “really testing the public’s patience”.

“It is the epitome of a place that feels left behind,” she said. “People in Sandwell have been let down by a council more concerned about party politics than improving things for the better.

“That is what comes from not having any opposition – a situation we will be putting an end to this May.

“Although I am a representative of West Bromwich East and every person who lives there, MPs should not have to be the de facto opposition to their local council.”

In her speech Ms Richards also reflected on her work with the Jewish Leadership Council and the Holocaust Educational Trust, saying her constituents had voiced concerns about the rise in anti-Semitism in the UK.

“It is astonishing that we still have to defend the fact that the holocaust happened, but we do,” she said. “It is a dark theory that we have to tackle on the far left and the far right.

“Although sometimes the scale of the task is overwhelming, we cannot and will not give in. I have met holocaust survivors and I have seen the pain caused by the rise in anti-Semitism. I am pleased that my constituents share the view that leaders must lead on these issues.”

She also paid tribute to former Dudley North MP Ian Austin, calling him “a true champion” for the Jewish community, and spoke of the “huge impact” Baggies legend Cyrille Regis had in combating racism in football.

Ms Richards said she wanted to see everyone in West Bromwich East receive a good education. “We need an injection of hope for the next generation,” she said.

A current Dudley councillor, Ms Richards worked for MPs including Margot James before she was elected to Parliament.

Ms James was in the House to see Ms Richards speak, and the former MP also took in the maiden speech of her replacement in Stourbridge, Suzanne Webb.

Ms Webb paid tribute to her predecessor. She spoke of her time volunteering for the charity Phab, and said she wanted to make sure all places of employment become “disability confident”.

She said the West Midlands had the opportunity of a fourth industrial revolution, and called on the Government to commit to bringing a gigabyte factory to the region.

“We should be bolder when it comes to climate change,” Ms Webb added, “not the prophets of doom, but the pioneers of change.”

Addressing the issue of green belt land, which she said was “under much pressure” in Stourbridge, she said: “I have long championed the protection of the green belt, and I know that we can do things differently when it comes to building houses.

“After all, these green spaces are the lungs of this great country. If we are serious about climate change, we need to start thinking differently about how we plan for our future homes and cities, and – importantly - about how we can protect those vast green lungs with fair funding for remediation, and focus on the regeneration of brownfield land.”

Calling for more to be done to tackle knife crime, she paid tribute to the family of Ryan Passey, who was stabbed to death in Stourbridge in 2017.

“I will continue to support the Justice for Ryan campaign until justice is indeed done,” she said.