Joe Morris MP on his progress since historic Labour win

Joe Morris MP won the Hexham seat in the General Election on July 4 in a seismic victory for the region.

Mr Morris said: "As Parliament goes into its summer recess, it has been a whirlwind first few weeks as your new Member of Parliament. I won’t be spending the summer on a beach though – I will spend it working hard across the whole of the constituency.

Joe Morris MP in Parliament (Image: Joe Morris MP)

"I was both immensely proud and greatly humbled after making my Maiden Speech. I used this opportunity to proudly tell my fellow MPs about the area I call home. I spoke to a number of matters, including the beauty of the whole of the Hexham constituency, the importance of our rural communities, the role of our local economy, and the mandate for change with which I was elected."

READ MORE: Labour MP eager to get started on delivering change for constituency

"That change is well underway. One such area where change is happening is fixing Britain’s polluted rivers. Over the course of the 14 years, water companies have been allowed to blight our waterways with impunity.

"With £88 billion in the water industry by the private sector to upgrade infrastructure, regulators will be given the teeth to do their jobs, and customers given the power to hold water bosses accountable and summon them to appear before powerful new customer panels.

"These measures will be part of clearing up Britain’s waterways, upgrading our crumbling water infrastructure, boosting economic growth and creating well-paid jobs, and restoring accountability to the water sector. Change steaming ahead.

"In the House of Commons, alongside making my maiden speech, I have been involved in the proceedings of Parliament. I was proud to vote for a King’s Speech that delivered on the central promises we made during the election – a stable economy, a positive vision for housing and a plan to make work pay.

"I have asked a question in the House of Commons Chamber to the Prime Minister on his NATO statement, as well as written questions to government ministers on issues such as the reopening of the Samson Inn in Gilsland and what steps the government will be taking to support businesses in rural and semi-rural areas.

"I am delighted to say that when Parliament meets again after the summer, I have been able to secure an “adjournment debate” on access to banking in rural Northumberland – raising real issues that came up time and time again during the election campaign in Parliament.

"I’ll use this opportunity to make it clear to ministers, on the parliamentary record, the damage that not having access to a functioning bank branch is having to businesses and communities.

"While politically, the election was a triumph for the Labour Party, and I am honoured to have broken a century of Conservative representation, I know that it falls on me to be an MP for all of the constituency, not just those who voted for me.

"I’m in the process of setting up my office and hiring staff to help constituents and aim to deliver on my promise to be the most accessible and transparent MP I can be," he added.