SATURDAY marks the completion of nine months since the historic election night of December when I, along with a whole swathe of new enthusiastic Conservative MPs, was elected.

Before we could find our feet in Parliament and begin to deliver our plans, everything came to a crashing halt as we went into lockdown and tackled the pandemic.

So this milestone is a useful chance to review what I have managed to do despite the disruption to normal business.

Well, we got Brexit done - a key manifesto promise.

We have provided unprecedented support to the people of Darlington during the pandemic. More than 12,000 people have received income under the furlough scheme, and many thousands of businesses have received SEIS grants, business support grants, rates holidays and bounce back loans – some £33m has been granted to Darlington businesses.

I have visited our hospital twice and look forward to my third visit very soon and was delighted to have secured a further £3.76m for our Accident & Emergency Department.

I’ve been out on patrol with the police on two occasions and continue regular contact with key officers in Darlington. Some of the new recruits from the 20,000 promised at the election are already on the beat here in the town.

I’ve spoken with the head of every school and college, and have launched the Darlington Debates competition in conjunction with the amazing Darlington Rotary Club.

I’ve hosted Zoom calls for Scouts, helped pack bags, organised and participated in numerous litterpicks, helped establish the new Friends of North Cemetery and attended their first clean up, and I’ve lobbied Network Rail to smarten up its bridges which serve as a gateway to our town.

I have met with many incredible third sector organisations across the town.

These growing relationships throughout the town are key to my being able to serve you effectively.

In parliament, much work takes place away from the chamber, and I have had the immense privilege of being part of the team that steered the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill through committee. I serve on the Women & Equalities Select Committee holding the Government to account on equalities legislation. I have led an All-Party Parliamentary Group on social integration and am working to establish a new group to review High Street banking for personal customers.

I know I and my team have helped hundreds and hundreds of people across Darlington who sought my help as a last resort – I hope I have lent a sympathetic ear and offered practical assistance.

I’m nearing case number 6,000 since I began in December. Every MP is handling previously unseen volumes of cases, each one requiring a detailed response, so my office team have been working incredibly hard and are, I am sure, delivering a good service to the people of Darlington.

I worked hard to gain this job and have worked hard at it since being elected. I am here for every resident of Darlington regardless of how they voted in December.

We have a Conservative government running the country, a Conservative mayor heading the Tees Valley, a conservative council in this town, and myself, a Conservative MP. We are working hand in hand to build a better Darlington and I know that better days lie ahead. Stay safe.