HARLOW MP Chris Vince was given the honour of making the humble address following the King’s Speech at the set opening of Parliament.

Film of the speech is below.

Mr Vince said: “I want to take this opportunity to write about something positive. Many readers will see the news headlines and, rightly, think that negativity is baked into our country. I take a different view – there are reasons to be hopeful. Our country, and our local area, is incredible and we should take every opportunity to remember that.

I write this on the day of the State Opening of Parliament, where the King delivered a speech to Members of Parliament, setting out the year ahead, in all the pageantry that befits one of the world’s longest standing democracies. As part of this, I had a unique chance to represent our community in a way that has never been done before.

It is tradition that MPs debate a “humble address”, which is in essence a way to agree formally with the King’s Speech. This starts with a long-serving Member of Parliament “proposing” the humble address – which is a way of starting the debate, and with a newbie Member of Parliament “seconding” the address. As a new MP, I was the seconder.

This is the first time an MP from Harlow has been given this opportunity. Admittedly, Winston Churchill technically represented Harlow before it was a New Town and came under the Epping constituency, and as Prime Minister, he would have had a formal role in the King’s Speech. Yet, since Harlow has been its own constituency – including Roydon, Lower Nazeing, and recent joiners in Hatfield Heath and Hatfield Broad Oak – this is the first time it has been proposed or seconded by a Harlow MP.

By convention, the speech is not controversial – so nor will I be in retelling it. It is a chance to speak about the place you represent, which is something I will never turn down. I spoke about the ingenuity found in our community – the birthplace of fibre-optic, the hard work of the Lea Valley Growers, the strong sense of community in Hatfield Heath that shows me what it is to be British.

It was a chance to recognise, in front of politicians from all walks of life, from all parties,  that this constituency is the best to represent. We have a healthy balance of rural and urban, of younger generations and diligent workers, of strong independent businesses and national centres of excellence and expertise.

The speech is also meant to be funny, though I will leave that to my critics to determine. What I will say is that it is an opportunity I am honoured to have had. Our community has an incredible past and a bright future – and I am glad I had the chance to tell the country that today.