Grantham MP Gareth Davies repeated his earlier calls to restore 24/7 services at Grantham hospital in his maiden speech.

The MP, elected at the December General Election, has raised questions in the House before, but this was the first time he had made a speech.

Just the day before, Mr Davies raised the issue of Grantham Hospital's A&E services, earning the offer of a visit to Grantham from Health Minister Edward Argar.

As is parliamentary tradition, the recently-elected MP paid tribute to his constituency and predecessor Nick Boles and was uninterrupted by fellow MPs.

In the debate which followed the delivery of yesterday's budget, Mr Davies told the House: "Grantham is a wonderful place to live, with its brilliant shops, businesses and schools. But as its population grows, we also face our challenges—and centre stage is our hospital.

"We rely on hospitals in the best and worst times of our lives, yet three and a half years ago Grantham Hospital was closed overnight. Now, as the new MP, I am pushing hard to get those doors back open 24 hours a day."

Citing Grantham as the birthplace of Margaret Thatcher and the links to Isaac Newton, he said: "I want Grantham's future to be as significant as its past."

The MP then turned to the budget and recalled his personal experiences.

"Today's Budget sets out a clear response to the coronavirus, but also sets a clear path for our country as the Government seek to level up and spread opportunity more widely.

"This agenda is close to my heart, as a northern, state school educated son of a state primary school teacher mum and small business owner dad.

"I was delighted to hear the support for small businesses announced today, because as a child I grew up seeing how hard it is to start a business and get it going.

"We have to remember that behind every business is someone who had an idea, saw it through, stuck it out and made it work.

"At the end of the day, businesses are people—they are the faces, the families and the stories that are the lifeblood of all our communities. That is why it is so important that this Budget today supports them.

"I myself have just come out of a very happy and long career in business in the financial services sector. That sector is ripe for innovation as we seek to fund our future infrastructure and transition to a zero-carbon economy.

"I look forward to contributing in whatever way I can in the years to come in these areas. But I know that whatever I do in this place would not be possible if it were not for my incredibly supportive and very patient wife Laura, my parents and my brother, who, true to form, are all in the Gallery today.

The MP concluded: "Whatever I achieve in this place, I hope I can make them proud."