The newly-elected MP praised the contributions of multiple local communities as she addressed the House of Commons for the first time writes Hana Rajabally
Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman has officially launched her parliamentary career by making her maiden speech in the House of Commons on Wednesday evening.
As is custom, she paid tribute to some of her predecessors in the constituency: the most recent MP Mike Freer, previous Labour MP Rudi Vis and former prime minister Margaret Thatcher. She particularly emphasised the tragic circumstances in which Freer was forced to step down and pledged her intention to use her time in office to stand up for democratic systems and fight attacks against public servants.
Sackman, who has joined the government as solicitor general, told MPs: “Although we disagreed on many things, Mike was dedicated to our area, both as a Member of Parliament and as leader of Barnet council. I admire his commitment to public service and, in particular, his role in securing equal marriage legislation for same sex couples—a legacy that he can take enormous pride in.
“But the circumstances under which Mike decided not to stand for re-election are appalling. We should have been able to face each other on the basis of our ideas, but Mike’s life and office were threatened by those who believe in the bullet, not the ballot box. It is a stark reminder of the fragility of our democracy both at home and abroad.”
Sackman also emphasised the diversity of Finchley and Golders Green, praising the fact that Archbishop Desmond Tutu established his ministry in the area in his years of exile during the apartheid in South Africa, and that the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks called Finchley and Golders Green his childhood home. She also added that it was in East Finchley that George Michael first tinkled on the ivories and Amy Winehouse first took the stage.
Finchley and Golders Green constituency has the largest Jewish population in the UK and was previously held by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, back when the constituency was simply called Finchley. It has swung between being a Labour and Conservative seat multiple times during its history, having been held by the Blair governments until 2010.
Linking Finchley and Golders Green’s diversity back to her belief in the ‘north London’ identity, Sackman continued: “Like Mrs Thatcher, I am a patriot and I want our communities and our country to prosper and be an influence on the global stage. But unlike her, I fundamentally believe that there is such a thing as society. Society is not an abstract idea to be buried in sociological essays. We can see it in the rich tapestry of communities that come together across Finchley and Golders Green.
“I may be the first female, Jewish, Gibraltarian MP from this constituency, but I would not be here without the support of my neighbours and my community: the Cypriot community, the Somali Bravanese, the Kosovan, the Japanese, the Irish and Hindu communities, the lawyers and the Uber drivers, the charity workers and the campaigners, the Spurs fans and the fans of some other north London team.”
Sackman said she wanted to reclaim the term “north Londoner” which has in recent times been used as an insult by some politicians, and instead wear it as a badge of pride that “symbolises a place that celebrates diversity, hard work and looking out for your neighbour.”
Finally, Sackman emphasised the huge inequality that plagues her community in Finchley and Golders Green, including the spiralling cost of living and failing public services.
“We need to get Britain back on track, and the Bills set out in the King’s Speech are exactly what we need to take the brakes off the economy and restore and rebuild our public services… So, to quote my famous predecessor, ‘let’s get straight to the point and let’s get on with the change that Britain truly needs’,” the newly elected MP concluded her maiden speech, referencing Margaret Thatcher.
Sarah Sackman was elected as MP for Finchley and Golders Green with 44.3% of the vote, returning the constituency to Labour hands for the first time since 2010.
To read the speech in full, please click here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-07-22/debates/67C8D6FC-BDA4-47FF-BECC-537443D53120/EconomyWelfareAndPublicServices
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