Serving as the member of parliament for Barrow and Furness has been the greatest honour of my life and it was deeply humbling to be re-elected last week for the third time. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me over the years and those who put their faith in me last Thursday. The chance to fight for you is all I ever wanted and I am so proud to be able to carry on.

The result here in Barrow and Furness and across the country sent a clear signal to Theresa May and her government.

First, it demonstrated that people want to fight against even greater cuts to our NHS and our schools. On doorsteps across Furness voters told me of their worries about the effects of losing funding for local services and what it would mean for their lives. I have been sent back to parliament with a clear mandate to defend Furness General hospital and other NHS services and to fight for greater funding for schools.

Secondly, people in Furness showed they will not be fooled by Tory scaremongering about the future of the shipyard. The vote to renew our nuclear deterrent passed last year, the task now ahead of us is to make sure that the investment that will come into our area in the coming years is used to spread prosperity, boost opportunities for young people and tackle deprivation across Furness. That is the argument I have been making and I am delighted that local people have sent me back to continue the job.

Nationally the result has been a clear blow to Theresa May’s authority and her ability to speak for the Britain in the Brexit negotiations. She went to the country in order to gain a mandate but has returned humiliated and diminished.

Brexit will determine the future of this country for decades and with the crunch negotiations set to begin in days, it would be unacceptable if she continued to behave as if hers is the only opinion that matters in the talks. Her desperate deal to cling to power can’t disguise the fact that she no longer commands the confidence of the country. Now is the time for the prime minister to listen to those of us who are urging her to take a more sensible approach that puts jobs and the economy first.

Finally this result has been yet another rebuke to a Tory party that has consistently put the interests of their party ahead of the interests of the country. David Cameron gambled on the referendum to try to solve an issue within the Tory party, it cost him his job. Then this unnecessary election was called by an arrogant prime minister who thought she could stroll home with a huge majority, now she is fighting for political survival. The British people, and people in places like Furness in particular, have taught her a harsh lesson that they will not be taken for granted or played for fools.

Our country faces uncertain times over the coming years. The government is weak and unstable. The shape of the Brexit talks is still uncertain and full of risk. And our society remains a target for terrorist attacks that seek to undermine our freedom and democracy. We need to rise to these challenges, not to shrink from them. But whilst the future may be hard to predict, some things are still certain. I was re-elected on a clear pledge to fight for Furness and to always put you first. That is what I will do in the months and years ahead, whatever challenges they hold for our country and our community.