Largan column: 'I will do everything I can to help'

In his latest column, High Peak MP Robert Largan explains what he said in his maiden speech in the House of Commons recently and what he's doing to support local people during the coronavirus crisis.

Last week, I gave my maiden speech in the House of Commons. However, I have been far from silent on your behalf. According to the records, I have, by exploiting every possible loophole in the rules on asking questions, spoken more often in the chamber before giving my first official speech, than any other MP in Parliament. 

By questioning Ministers, I have already manged to force the publication of the report into the partial collapse of the dam at Whaley Bridge, pushed for stronger environmental protections and put the Mottram Bypass, investment into the Hope Valley railway line and the campaign for Gamesley station all firmly back onto the agenda down in Westminster. 

I used my maiden speech to highlight the struggles of local self-employed people during this pandemic and to call on the Government to take urgent action to support them. Many self-employed people, often with families to support, face an uncertain future and desperately need help. The complexity of the challenge should not be underestimated, but the Government has a responsibility to meet it. 

I am glad that the Chancellor has listened and acted. The Government will pay self-employed people a taxable grant to cover 80 per cent of their average monthly profits over the last three years, worth up to £2,500 a month. This support will be available for at least three months, starting from June at the very latest, but can be extended if necessary. 

This scheme is one of the most generous responses to the crisis put forward by any government in the world and will benefit 95% of self-employed people. I will keep pushing the Government to work flat out to deliver this scheme and ensure self-employed people in trouble get the help they need in the weeks and months ahead. 

Since this crisis began to touch our community, I have tried my best to support everyone who lives in the High Peak. While I’m unable to do face-to-face help and advice surgeries right now, I am spending my days on the phone and responding to hundreds and hundreds of emails from local people looking for support. I’m still raising a huge number of cases directly with the Government and the Council, as I’m pushing for more help for our area. 

It has been inspiring to see everyone come together, volunteering across our towns and villages. Last week, along with thousands of others, I volunteered to become an NHS Responder to help support our local NHS and vulnerable local people. 

I also used my maiden speech to repeat my promise to put the High Peak ahead of party politics and to work hard to represent everyone, no matter who they voted for. It is a promise I will keep so long as I am lucky enough to be your MP and I will do everything I can to help you through this crisis and work to make the High Peak an even better place to live.