Wolves, gin and Old Billy horse feature in MP’s maiden speech

Ms Nichols, who secured the Warrington North seat in the general election, also wished Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, son of Warrington North's first MP Lord Doug Hoyle, every success in his role.

Early on in her speech as her family watched on in the gallery yesterday, Wednesday, she took the opportunity to voice her fears over the climate crisis.

She said: “Every member of this House has a solemn duty to their constituents, and it is a duty that has rarely been so important, as we stand on the precipice of environmental catastrophe.

MP Charlotte Nichols' family watched on in the gallery as she delivered her speech (Photo: Instagram @charlotte2153)

“I am proud that Labour-led Warrington Borough Council has declared a climate emergency and I will be working with it to deliver a green industrial revolution that puts power, in its most literal sense, into the hands of our community.”

Ms Nichols then highlighted the borough’s long-standing science and engineering base.

“Indeed, it is not uncommon to run into nuclear physicists at the pub,” she said.

“Warrington is strategically located to benefit from developments in the wider region in hydrogen gas and tidal power, among other sources of zero and low-carbon energy, so a real, green northern powerhouse is right at the top of my agenda, building on my work on a just transition with the trade union GMB prior to entering Parliament.”

Ms Nichols told the House when the time comes for her successor to deliver a maiden speech, that she hopes ‘we might have moved on’ from arguing about the EU.

Bringing it back to the town, she emphasised the importance of ensuring the borough delivers adequate infrastructure – including housing, roads and public transport – to cope with its projected growth.

Warrington

“I would suggest to anyone looking for a town of the year that they need look no further than Warrington,” said Ms Nichols.

“Warrington is a town whose local economy outperforms many cities.

“We are a prosperous town with a buoyant local economy but there remains pockets of real deprivation and too many people struggling month to month.

“Our challenge, and my driving purpose, is to ensure that everyone shares in that prosperity.

“With my local foodbank doubling in size last month to cope with increasing demand, the urgency here cannot be overstated.”

Warrington Foodbank

She also gave a nod to the proud industrial heritage and future of ‘The Wire’.

Ms Nichols said: “We manufacture a fifth of the world’s gin in Warrington North at the G&J distillery, which has been going since 1761, and there is a really thriving local craft gin scene with local businesses like the 3 Pugs distillery started in Orford.

“But if gin is not your thing, don’t worry – we also have fantastic breweries like Burtonwood Brewery and the Coach House Brewing Company and many fantastic pubs to enjoy their beers in.”

The politician labelled the constituency boundaries in Warrington as a ‘funny one’, stating there are parts of Warrington South that are further north than parts of Warrington North and vice versa.

She said: “Warrington Wolves’ Halliwell Jones stadium is on the wrong side of Lythgoes Lane to fall within the Warrington North boundary – something that I am hoping the Boundary Commission will address to right this historic wrong.

The Halliwell Jones Stadium

“Warrington North can rightly claim, though, the world champions, Warrington Wolves Physical Disability Rugby League team, as they train in Padgate – and we are very proud that they do.

“Gulliver’s World theme park also falls within both constituencies, although as it is predominantly the car park that is in Warrington South, I would say the real fun happens in Warrington North – true of most things.

“Among the many, many things that Warrington South can never take away from us in the North is our claim to Old Billy, the oldest horse who ever lived, who died at the age of 62 – definitively Warrington North and now in Hansard for the record.”

Old Billy

Closing her speech, she said she was proud to represent a town whose people have shown such ‘resilience, good humour and kindness’ both to her and to each other.

She added: “I am truly inspired by the people that I have met doing incredible things in our community in Warrington North and I will work as hard as I can to earn the trust that you have put in me.”