NEWLY-ELECTED Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds paid a glowing tribute to his predecessor Paul Murphy in his maiden speech at Westminster yesterday (Thur).

Mr Thomas-Symonds highlighted the achievements of his Mr Murphy, the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (pictured above), who he called the “model MP”.

Mr Murphy, who served as an MP for Torfaen between 1987 and 2015, invited his future successor to his office on work experience in 1997.

Reflecting on that time, Mr Thomas-Symonds said in his speech: “It is a matter of great pride for me to stand here as the grandson of an Eastern Valley miner and a matter of great pride too to succeed a MP who, himself, was the son of an Eastern Valley miner.

“Paul never forgot that his most important priority was the people of the Eastern Valley. He carried out those roles with great courtesy and dignity.

“I have the model MP to follow and after my work experience had finished, he wrote a reference and said that one day I would end up with the top job.

“I can’t think of a greater job than representing the people of Torfaen. It is a central duty and one I will never forget.”

In his speech, Mr Thomas-Symonds also spoke of the “rich cultural and industrial heritage” of Torfaen, highlighting the Big Pit, Pontypool RFC and Cwmbran’s John Fielding, who won the Victoria Cross for his heroism at the battle of Rorke’s Drift in 1879.

He also spoke of his hope of securing the future employment of his constituents through a Yes vote in the EU referendum by 2017, highlighting the fact that many families in Torfaen were already “relying on food banks on a weekly basis”.

Speaking to the Argus following the speech, Mr Thomas-Symonds said: “It was exhilarating and meant a great deal to me. It was a speech from the heart.

“It’s an extraordinary privilege to speak for Torfaen and I was keen to mention the issues I found while knocking on doors during campaigning.

“Torfaen doesn’t need me to put it on the map.”

Richard Fuller, Conservative MP for Bedford and Kempston who was present during the debate, was impressed with the speech. He said: “He painted a very vivid picture of his home constituency and spoke with great eloquence and fluency in making his points.

“He spoke with a great sense of soul and compassion for his constituents. He also brought with him a sense of energy from his engagement with the electorate in the last few weeks.”