Press Release
5th November 2024
Cat Eccles MP delivers Maiden Speech to packed House of Commons
Cat Eccles delivered her maiden speech in a tightly packed House of Commons chamber on 5th November 2024, during the Fixing the NHS & Public Services portion of the Budget Debate.
Cat paid tribute to her predecessors in the role; Suzanne Webb, Margot James, Lynda Waltho and Debra Shipley, pointing out that Stourbridge has a long history of electing female MPs. Suzanne Webb and Margot James were spotlighted for their support for the Justice4Ryan campaign, which Cat pledged to continue to support. Lynda Waltho and Debra Shipley were thanked for their invaluable support to Cat during the recent campaign.
Cat spoke of Stourbridge’s origins, from 1255 onwards and its later connection to a future King Charles II. Stourbridge’s varied cultural history in glass making, sports and musical talent was mentioned, alongside the industrial contributions such as the Stourbridge Lion in Wollaston, Round Oak Steelworks in Brierley Hill, Hingley’s in Netherton and the manufacturing of nails, anvils, crucibles & firebricks in Lye.
Regarding the NHS, Cat said:
“The impact of austerity on the NHS is what first politicised me.
We saw procurement taken away from clinical staff, vacancies frozen, pay frozen, senior staff forced to reapply for their roles, older staff encouraged to take voluntary redundancy, and more layers of middle management introduced, removing a lot of day to day decision making from clinicians.
During the pandemic I was working on the frontline in emergency maternity theatres.
The early days of lockdown were chaotic with official advice changing by the day.
We were given items that weren’t fit for purpose, face shields that fell off our faces and out of date masks.
Sadly we lost some colleagues along the way – including Neonatologist Dr Vishna Rasiah and midwife Safaa Alam.
I hope that the contribution of ODPs during the pandemic will be recognised – so many stepped up and fulfilled roles in ITU, on wards and in the emergency department.
A true demonstration of the skill and flexibility of our profession.”
Cat spoke of her love for the Stourbridge community spirit. How the COVID Support Group, which she helped found, had over 100 volunteers and helped over 200 shielding residents during the pandemic and raised over £8000 for the local food bank.
Cat finished her speech with a pledge of her support for Ukraine and on her belief of the potential for the House to bring about positive change to Stourbridge, the country, and the wider world.
See Cat’s website at https://www.cat4stour.co.uk/ for further details. For additional information please call Ben McCloskey at the Westminster office on 0207 219 3572.
Picture: Cat Eccles MP delivering her Maiden Speech