Shropshire Star

Just like first day at school, says Telford's new MP Lucy Allan

She is one of the Tories' big hopes for the future – but for now Telford's new MP Lucy Allan admits she feels like a little girl lost.

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Ms Allan today described her introduction to the House of Commons as just like her first day at school.

Last week she became Telford's first Conservative and woman MP.

And since then it has been a whirl of travelling, organising and searching in vain for new offices and meeting rooms.

From meeting the Prime Minister David Cameron, and the other newly elected Tory MPs to having a tour of the building, Ms Allan says it has been a steep learning curve.

Ms Allan, the first woman MP in Shropshire since 1929, admitted: "It's a bit like the first day of school, to be honest.

"I have had the tour and I have been given a key to my own locker. I haven't got an office yet but a former Lib Dem MP has said I can use his for a little while and I think I may have to take him up on that.

Telford MP Lucy Allan, circled, with Prime Minister David Cameron, Boris Johnson and the rest of the newly elected Conservative MPs at the Houses of Parliament today

"He was also going to lend me some of his equipment, which he no longer needs, which is really nice of him.

"It is strange being someone who is coming in from the outside, compared to someone who knows all the runnings of the Houses of Parliament.

"But the people who work there have been amazing and very helpful, and they all dress in stiff white shirts and long jackets. They are a delight and they treat you with so much respect, even though it might be the fourth time you've asked them how to get downstairs."

Ms Allan won her seat from former Telford MP of 14 years, David Wright, in the general election last Thursday. She was elected by a majority vote of 730.

She said she is still trying to get her head round her new role.

All five Shropshire Conservative MPs together at Westminster for the first time. From left: Philip Dunne, Lucy Allan, Daniel Kawczynski, Mark Pritchard and Owen Paterson.

She added: "I left the building to do some interviews and I thought I would need to have my bag scanned before I went back in, but I was able to walk straight through.

"The security man on the door said 'It's your house, madam' and I found that very weird that I could just walk straight in, but what a lovely phrase."

Since being elected Ms Allan has revealed one of her ancestors was a suffragette, who spent a lot of her time in Holloway Prison, so becoming an MP means a lot to her.

"My ancestor spent a lot of time throwing bricks through windows trying to get the vote for women, so I know she would be proud of me for being sworn in as an MP."

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