PARLIAMENT'S newest MP has broken her silence in the Commons, just days before she will seek re-election at the snap General Election.

Conservative Trudy Harrison's voice cracked as she thanked her family for their support in becoming Copeland MP in February, telling the Commons: "They have been incredible towers of strength."

She said her four daughters have become "quite the persuasive activists", joking: "You can only imagine their comments about another round of doorstep challenges."

Ms Harrison also praised her Cumbria constituency and her Labour predecessor Jamie Reed, as is traditional for an MP in their maiden speech.

Ms Harrison was surrounded by fellow Tories, with party chairman Patrick McLoughlin sitting on the Government frontbench.

With the Commons expected to adjourn on Thursday ahead of next week's dissolution, Ms Harrison risked missing out on making a maiden speech.

But she opted to use the Finance (No. 2) Bill committee stage to deliver her first speech.

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She said: "My husband Keith, my parents, brother and daughters - Gabrielle, Savannah, Francesca and Rosemary."

As Ms Harrison's voice cracked with emotion, her Tory colleagues cheered her.

The MP went on: "They've been incredible towers of strength.

"From the moment I decided to stand they were there with me - campaigning, delivering leaflets and knocking on doors.

"My girls have become quite the persuasive activists. It's been wonderful to see their interest in politics grow.

"Having four teenage daughters aged 14, 15, 17 and 18, I was also delighted to tip the balance of female MPs to 456 - equalling the balance between all of history's women members and the current number of male members.

"Though there was a change of reference in mother's day cards this year.

"Gone were the thanks for the practical tasks of washing, cooking and cleaning, and generally being there - each one instead referred to a theoretical role, referencing inspiration and pride.

"That's what a by-election does to family life.

"And you can only imagine their comments about another round of doorstep challenges."

Ms Harrison's speech was her first spoken contribution in the Commons since becoming an MP.

Records show she has also asked no written parliamentary questions although she has taken part in votes.

Labour lost Copeland, an area it had held since 1935, to the Conservatives in a bitter by-election sparked by the decision of Mr Reed to leave for a job at Sellafield.

Ms Harrison earlier said she wanted to thank Mr Reed for inspiring her introduction to politics, noting the first parliamentary debate she watched was led by him and involved fellow Cumbrian politicians.

She said: "I saw the positive impact that MPs in Westminster could have on their local communities and the powerful influence their support could play, even in remote areas which I had previously felt would never be anyone's political priority."