Austerity a political choice we cannot inflict on our people, says Eastwood, during maiden speech.

During her maiden speech in the UK Parliament yesterday (3 September), Alliance Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood has said that austerity is a political choice, and one which the people of Lagan Valley, and those right across the country, cannot be forced to bear.

Sorcha Eastwood Lagan Valley

She also touched on the wider significance of her election as the first ever female, as well as first ever united community, MP to ever represent the constituency.

 

Ms Eastwood has said: “The system is broken. Austerity is a political choice, and it’s one we cannot expect our people to bear, not when so many are already struggling to get by as it is.

 

“Nearly 40% of people who are working are in receipt of Universal Credit. Young people are priced out of the housing market. We have full time workers having to avail of food banks. We should be ashamed, and be working every minute there is to end the need for them.

 

“One particular issue I want to champion as MP, on behalf of people all over the UK, is cancer. One in two people in our lifetime will get cancer; it happened to my husband. He was diagnosed last year in the Emergency Department, along with four other people who I know personally. Only two of the 5 are still alive and thankfully my husband is one of them.

 

“Cancer survival rates in the UK are as much as 25 years behind other European countries, and we must put that back at the top of the political agenda.

 

“I am where I am because of the people of Lagan Valley, and the significance of their choice for me to represent them is not lost on me, as the constituency’s first ever female, and first ever united community, MP. Rest assured, I will work hard for everyone here.

 

“It’s indicative of the growing desire for a more positive, prosperous, and progressive future. A growing desire for change. I look forward to working with this Government to create this change and make a society where all our constituents – particularly in Lagan Valley and across Northern Ireland – can flourish.”