Thank you madam deputy speaker.

I am honoured to make my maiden address during this debate on carers allowance.

We all know people working tirelessly to care for loved ones, indeed making life better for those who sacrifice so much is one of the main reasons I made the decision to run for election to this place.

In Weston-super-Mare, it has been a privilege to get to know some of our residents caring tirelessly for loved ones in the most challenging circumstances.

As a family of wonderful people, including my mum Fiona, who dedicate their working lives to the caring professions, I feel the responsibility to make the needed improvements particularly keenly.

I’d like to pay tribute to carers in my constituency, specifically to Pat O’Connell, Jan Quan and everyone at the Parkinson's UK Weston-super-Mare branch for being so fearless in fighting for appropriate care services for their loved ones.

I’ve got to know them and the others in the Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia support group over the past few months and I’m in awe of their love, compassion and conviction to secure better care and respite services, not just for themselves, but for everyone.

It's a real tragedy that the care system wasn’t able to provide them with suitable respite from the 24/7 care they provide and I am continuing to fight their corner and the corner of all carers across the constituency.

Weston-super-Mare is an extraordinary place, full of a vibrant mix of people.

Since my family moved to the village of Kewstoke in 2001, Weston and the surrounding areas have become deeply intertwined with our lives.

I may still have my Stokie accent, a love of pottery and Staffordshire oatcakes, but Weston is now where my heart is.

It’s a town where you can always find someone with roots from across our nation or from across the world.

My younger sisters Emily and Lauren have become expert code-switchers between Stokie and West Country based on the situation, but my younger brother Scott has embraced the local lingo, and I can almost hear him now saying, "Alright, my lover?"

Weston has provided us all with a friendly community, stunning beaches, a beautiful coastline, and the best British seaside experience in the country.

It’s hard not to feel immense pride being here, and while I won’t play favourites with our local chip shops or ice cream stops, I can assure you there are many excellent choices across town!

This year, we celebrate the 160th birthday of Birnbeck Pier, Weston’s oldest pier.

Closed for nearly 30 years, its restoration has been a labour of love for so many people who have worked tirelessly to preserve this piece of our history.

I’m overjoyed to be the MP who will hopefully see it brought back to life for our community and for commercial use.

Weston is made up of diverse communities, from the town itself which hosted its first Mela just this summer to celebrate our diversity to areas like Worle and villages like Bleadon, Uphill, and Hutton.

These neighbourhoods have grown significantly over the years, with post-war estates such as Bournville, Coronation, Potteries, and Oldmixon fostering some of the most creative, friendly, and resilient people, hosting events from community pride to some of the most fantastic creative arts events I’ve ever attended.

I come from a community just like those, and under the last Labour Government, I was the first in my family to pursue A-levels and go to university.

It’s because of these life-changing opportunities that I am here today.

Someone on the doorstep in Locking Village said to me recently, "Politics doesn’t make any difference."

But I couldn’t disagree more.

Yes, we’ve seen challenges, but for many of us, the decisions of a Labour government gave us the chance to succeed in ways we never thought possible.

I’m determined to build on this legacy and ensure we continue to empower future generations.

Recently, Weston has evolved into a haven for food and beverage enterprise, offering everything from traditional British seaside fare to incredible vegan options, thanks to local champions like Anna Southwell, who’ve transformed perceptions of vegan cuisine (including my own) and also shown how to build and sustain inclusive communities through food, drink and entertainment.

Businesses like Kinda.Co, known for its dairy-free cheese, have chosen Weston as their home, thriving here because of the opportunities we create for growth and sustainability and while it’s now just outside my constituency, the iconic Thatcher’s cider will always be associated with Weston-super-Mare.

While our High Street, like many across the country has struggled over the years, traditional stores like the phenomenal, independent Walker and Ling on the High Street, operating in the same place since 1904 have kept the faith, are part of the fabric of this great town and I sincerely hope, will be there for many more years to come as we work hard to revitalise the high street.

Weston is also home to some amazing tech start-ups and as the world becomes more interconnected, with high-skill, high-wage jobs less tied to cities, places like Weston are starting to see investment, more people have cottoned on to how great this place is, and I can totally understand why.

I’d also like to thank my predecessor, John Penrose, for his service in this place for over 19 years.

I would like to particularly pay tribute to his work on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, but also as the Anti-Corruption Champion under the May and Johnson ministries.

And before him, the late Lord Cotter, who was the member when my family first moved here.

Lord Cotter was a visionary for our town, advocating for digital transformation and regional economic development.

He was also a Patron of the homelessness and rough sleeping charity in Weston, Somewhere to Go, a charity he cared for deeply.

I’m honoured to continue in his footsteps as a Trustee of the charity, looking forward to this Government’s ambitious plans to put an end to homelessness, but also in ensuring technology is a force for good and that digital inclusion becomes a reality for all.

Our youth and indeed all of us seeking to learn and develop, deserve the best opportunities.

Last weekend I attended Weston Youth Council’s Wellness Day in the town and spent time with some of the most phenomenal young people and the adults giving their time to nurture them.

I’m inspired constantly by the hope, resilience and community spirit of the children I’m fortunate enough to be surrounded by in Weston.

I’m committed to ensuring that Weston-super-Mare continues to be a place where everyone can thrive, where community and innovation come together to build a brighter future for us all.

If the children and young people I see in the constituency week in, week out are anything to judge our future by, we’re in excellent hands.

Thank you, Weston-super-Mare, for being my home, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you.