New MP Killen makes maiden speech

Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP Gerard Killen has given his maiden speech in the Houses of Parliament.

Mr Killen took to the floor of the Commons on Thursday during a debate on the Queen’s Speech.

He paid tribute to those killed or injured during recent terrorist attacks in Manchester and London, speaking also of Rutherglen man Piotr Chylewska and thanking Father Paul Morton and the parish at St Bride’s for the support they had shown Piotr.

Mr Killen went on to highlight work done in the community by cafes and groups such as the Black Poppy coffee shop, R:evolve Clothing and Healthy n Happy, saying: “We have a diverse mix of decent people, all coming together and helping to make our communities better places to live, one small act of kindness at a time.

“They are the everyday heroes, and I thank each and every one of them for the job that they do.”

He spoke about LGBTI rights, saying he was the first gay, married man to represent the constituency, and went on to discuss the impact of austerity, criticising the Conservative government for making a deal with the DUP but not providing a deal for those struggling to make ends meet.

He concluded: “In this era of fixed-term parliaments, the great irony is that I have no idea how long I will have a seat in this place, but my pledge to the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West is that I will make every day count.”