IT was a privilege to make my maiden speech this week.

I am truly honoured to serve the people of Chippenham and as I said our pocket of Wiltshire is a place that residents including myself don’t just live in but are proud to call home.

I stated that: “I will not beat about the bush. My mission is, as Member of Parliament, to help make our town centres hubs once again and help support our local businesses, so that once again people will be able to live and work in our constituency."

I also pledged to keep the reopening of Corsham train station at the top of my agenda, along with addressing the traffic issues in Bradford on Avon.

Below is a section of the speech – the full version is on www.michelledonelan.com

"My ambition in this house is to work tirelessly to open more doors and create more opportunities for local people. I believe in a Britain where everyone can achieve and get on in life. It really should not matter where you began but where you are going.

"So to me the role of an MP is therefore to open doors for others along the way.

"Hard work and ambition are vital for success. However, a good education can make the real difference. Perhaps the most important door of all.

"Excellent teachers make an excellent school. Every child is different but all need support, inspiration and encouragement.

"Funding is key though and we really must move to a National Funding Formula as soon as possible. In fact Wiltshire is one of the lowest funded authorities in the country.

"Now it is also a time for stability in education but we must ensure that our education system meets the needs of our economy, pupils, teachers and the future of this country.

"Vocational training needs to be pushed and promoted with the stigma challenged. We need to continue to work to transform career education so that we actually promote the jobs that the economy needs.

"Expansion of the Government’s apprenticeships programme is a good first step.

"Above all I believe that we need to modernise our education system including incorporating more taster business skills. We cannot just wait for entrepreneurs to be born – we need to help foster and develop a can-do, will-do attitude.

"Education in the UK does needs to be more proactive and we need to further enhance the link with businesses and charities. Creating the workforce and entrepreneurs that we need as well as the volunteers.

"The answer therefore in my mind lies with a long-term education plan.

"Creating opportunities covers many areas and I will work hard during my time in this house to help create a society where everyone can achieve their dreams. As I said it is not where you are from that matters but where you are going. My dream was never to just get here

but to get others where they want to be and I do hope that through this role I open door after door for the residents of the Chippenham constituency."