I am both honoured and humbled to have been elected as the inaugural Member of Parliament for the Filton and Bradley Stroke constituency. I am fully aware of the high level of trust the people of FABS have placed in me, I will assure them that I will do everything I can to make sure that their best interests are always at the heart of what I strive to achieve.

To be entrusted as the MP for a new constituency is a special challenge, and one that I relish. There are many challenges ahead, but nothing that we can not overcome or achieve if we work together. That is why my top priority as your MP will always be to stand up for the best interests of my constituency, and to work hard to ensure that the voice of our local communities is heard loud and clear in Westminster.

This commitment to you is at the very core of my reasons for wanting to be your MP. The people of Filton and Bradley Stoke deserve to have a “local champion” - someone who understands the importance of preserving our local services, of promoting our communities, of supporting our businesses and educational facilities. That is my aim and my commitment to you, as your MP.

I have already campaigned on a number of local issues since I was first selected to contest the General Election, and I vow to continue these campaigns as your MP. These include continuing to resist overdevelopment in South Gloucestershire , to push for the transport infrastructure improvements we need to deal with existing traffic congestion, and to protect the essential local service improvements that I and my Conservative councillor colleagues fought for over many years.

I will also strive to promote the needs of our schools and educational facilities, campaign to protect as many facilities at Frenchay Hospital as possible after the Labour Government downgraded it, to support our small businesses, local industries and leading aerospace companies such as Rolls Royce and Airbus, and will push for improved care options for older residents, promoting greater independence and dignity in older age.

On a personal note, as a serving Territorial Army soldier and having completed a tour of Afghanistan last year with 29 Commando Regiment RA, the Armed Forces are of particular importance to me and something that I want to champion. I do not believe the last Government either understood or appreciated the Armed Forces, and I believe we need to restore that broken military covenant. But I also know that this is just the start. The issues above are just a flavour of what I want to achieve, but I know that there are so many more issues and concerns within our local communities.

I am determined to repay those who have placed their trust in me already, and also convince those who didn’t this time around that I will do all I can to obtain their trust in the coming days, weeks, months and years. By electing me as your local MP, I know that you have already invested great responsibility in me. I will not let you down.