NEW Bury North MP James Frith used his maiden speech in Parliament to praise the constituency as “a great place to live”.

Mr Frith was speaking in the Commons during a debate about tuition fees.

He said: “From the north and the foothills of the Lancashire Pennines, overlooked by Peel Tower atop Holcombe Hill to Gigg Lane in the south, home of the mighty Shakers, Bury FC.

“Everywhere, wonderful people with independent mindedness, creativity, warmth and wit.

“Elbow, Victoria Wood, Danny Boyle, Sir Robert Peel and Super Josh all hail from Bury.

“Proudly, we are home to the Lancashire Fusiliers and veterans and their legend of six Victoria Crosses before breakfast at the battle of Gallipoli in 1915 — a battle in which one Clement Attlee also fought.”

Mr Frith then spoke about what he described as Bury having “seven years of bad luck” under austerity, referencing £120m of cuts from the town’s services, local government and economy.

He asked why the constituency’s walk-in centre in Moorgate Primary Care Centre is threatened with closure when it is relied upon by thousands of patients per month.

He added: “The reality of austerity is being lived through in hospital wards or by carers and underpaid, overworked parents.”

On tuition fees, Mr Frith added: “Too often it is our young people who have been first to face the political calculation of this place.”

Recently Chancellor Philip Hammond admitted people are “weary” of austerity after “seven years of hard slog” and indicated that the Government is prepared to borrow more to invest.