MP backs academy

The MP for Sherwood, Mr Mark Spencer, was one of the first Conservative members to make his maiden speech on the first day of the new Parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Spencer was the second of 148 new Conservative MPs elected earlier this month to make their first speech during the debate on the Queen’s Speech in the House of Commons.

He began by comparing himself to the constituency’s most famous son, Robin Hood, with his desire to fight against oppressive taxation by uncaring government and protect the most vulnerable in society.

Speaking to the Advertiser after his speech, Mr Spencer said he hoped in David Cameron the country would have its Richard the Lionheart.

Mr Spencer said he became one of the Tories’ first maiden speech makers by sharpening his elbows and making his way to the front.

“I’m here to do a job. Being a shrinking violet is not going to get me very far and benefit the people of Sherwood very much,” he said.

Mr Spencer said he found it easy to talk about his predecessor, Labour’s Mr Paddy Tipping, in his speech because he knew him very well.

He said he also found it easy to talk about his constituency because he had lived there so long.

The main thrust of his speech was about power being localised to help councils tackle problems such as anti-social behaviour, which he said was a real issue in Sherwood.

Mr Spencer welcomed the proposals for elected police commissioners who he said would make decisions based on what was important to the public.

He also welcomed the abolition of regional spatial strategies, which imposed housing targets on local authorities.

Mr Spencer said he was concerned about Newark and Sherwood District Council’s plans to make Ollerton and Boughton a secondary area for growth in the district because of the issues with Ollerton roundabout.

He also had concerns about the A614.

“We just can’t build houses and houses without sorting out the infrastructure,” he said.