Rupert Lowe has used his maiden House of Commons speech to say that being elected MP for Great Yarmouth was the proudest moment of his professional life - eclipsing taking Southampton to the FA Cup final.

The Reform MP - who was chairman of the Saints when they lost 1-0 to Arsenal in 2003 - also revealed he was now a season ticket holder at Great Yarmouth Town FC.

He also used his sometimes fiery speech to lament what he saw as the decline of the town, telling MPs its people had been "let down and forgotten for too long".

"My constituencies look around their town and they've seen their once booming home change beyond recognition," he added.

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The former banker blamed immigration for many of the town's woes.

"Uncontrolled mass immigration has failed Great Yarmouth, as it has failed the entire country. Just like the majority of the rest of the country, in 2010 [the people of Yarmouth] voted for lower immigration.

"In 2015, they voted for lower immigration. In 2016, they voted for lower immigration. In 2019, they voted for lower immigration."

Rupert Lowe, Reform MP for Great YarmouthRupert Lowe, Reform MP for Great Yarmouth (Image: PA)

"In 2024, Great Yarmouth also voted for lower immigration.

"The difference this time is that I will voice those concerns and fight as best I can to drastically reduce the unsustainable number of people settling in our country.

"The roads are packed, the hospitals are full, GP surgeries are bursting at the seams, and dentists are inaccessible - frankly, the system is broken and mass immigration is largely responsible."

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The 66-year-old from Oxford claimed that wealth brought to the town had been "stolen" by the European Union.

Herring fishing fleet leaving Great Yarmouth harbour in 1961Herring fishing fleet leaving Great Yarmouth harbour in 1961 (Image: Archant Library) Great Yarmouth's Fishwharf pictured in October 1958Great Yarmouth's Fishwharf pictured in October 1958 (Image: Archant Library)

"Decades ago, the ocean brought huge wealth to Great Yarmouth from both fish and oil.

"Primarily known for its wildly successful herring fishing industry, at its peak, it was one of the most important fishing ports in Europe, often referred to as the herring capital of the world.

"That wealth was stolen from the people of Great Yarmouth and transferred overseas through our membership of the European Union.

"It is no surprise that my constituents overwhelmingly voted to leave the European Union."

Mr Lowe claimed there was now only one remaining fishing boat operating from Yarmouth.

 

Mr Lowe acknowledged the town's history of welcoming people from all over the world but said immigration has brought "chaos".

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"Great Yarmouth has a very long history of proudly welcoming immigrants who come to the UK in order to work hard, integrate properly and contribute to the economy," he added.

"The current chaos could not be further from that. We have local people, particularly women, feeling unsafe in their own town.

"We are told that crime is down, but I do not believe it and the town certainly does not. We must be clear: the reporting of crime is down because many have lost faith that the police will act.

Reform UK MP, Rupert Lowe at the House of Commons Reform UK MP, Rupert Lowe at the House of Commons (Image: PA)

"I am determined to change that."

He also stated how he is "proud" to have been gifted a season ticket to watch the Bloaters.

"I am now the proud holder of a season ticket, which was an incredibly kind gift from the club’s chairman following the donation of my first month’s parliamentary salary to the club -don’t worry, Madam Deputy Speaker; it has been appropriately declared."