CASTLE Point MP Rebecca Harris paid tribute to her predecessor, Dr Bob Spink, when she made her maiden speech in the House of Commons.

During a debate on the strategic defence and security review, Mrs Harris told Parliamentary colleagues how proud she was to be representing the constituency and paid tribute to her predecessors.

Addressing an almost empty chamber, just after 9pm on Monday, she said: “My immediate predecessor was Dr Bob Spink, who was an extremely active Member of the House and an enthusiastic presenter of petitions.

“In recent years, he was associated with several parties, including a short fling with the UK Independence Party as its only ever MP, however briefly. He ultimately fought the election, leading his own Save Our Green Belt party – an important issue in Castle Point.

“I have met many people whom he has helped. He was a very hard-working Member of Parliament. I wish him the best for the future.”

The Conservative MP also paid tribute to the late Sir Bernard Braine, who represented the area for 43 years, recalling the time he spoke for three-and-a-half hours to derail a bill that would likely have led to the construction of two oil refineries on West Canvey Marshes.

Mrs Harris added: “I am happy to say Sir Bernard and the tenacious local residents won the day.

“The refineries were never built, and one of my first public engagements as a Member of Parliament was attending the formal opening of a superb new Royal Society for the Protec-tion of Birds reserve, where one of those refineries would have stood.”

Towards the end of her nine-minute speech, Mrs Harris tackled the subject of the debate. She said: “Like many others, my constituents have experienced terrorism first-hand and its changing character over the years. The IRA sought to detonate an oil storage tank on Canvey in the Seventies, and many of my constituents work in London and were affected by 7/7.

“I hope the strategic defence and security review, while determining the shape of our defence and Armed Forces, will also give the British public confidence that, when our brave men and women are sent to war on our behalf, it is for this country’s security interests.”