NEW Labour MP Jonathan Hinder can rely on a perfect source of information on what is going on in his constituency - his mother Sue.

As the former copper patrols his new Westminster beat he knows she will give him the inside knowledge on the happenings back home.

The 33-year-old won the sprawling new seat of Pendle and Clitheroe on July 4 by just 902 votes defeating former Conservative government minister Andrew Stephenson in the process.

One of five new East Lancashire Labour MPs, Mr Hinder spoke to Local Democracy Reporter Bill Jacobs about the challenges of getting to grips with his new role and the weird and wonderful ways of Parliament.

His father David is a long-term party activist in the Ribble Valley while he himself is a keen football and cricket fan.

Mr Hinder pledged to put rebuilding the NHS and public services, the cost of living, better public transport and green investment at the centre of his Parliamentary priorities.

The new MP said: "I have just about got my head above the Westminster water but there is still an awful lot to learn and do.

"I am incredibly proud to be the first Member of Parliament for the new Pendle and Clitheroe constituency.

"I grew up at the foot of Pendle Hill in the village of Downham, and I now live in Clitheroe.

"Having attended Clitheroe Grammar School, I then studied History and Politics at Oxford prior to joining the police service.

"I served as a police constable, sergeant and inspector in London, mostly in emergency response roles, before leaving after a decade to pursue politics.

"I have lots of family in the constituency and across East Lancashire, and I now have the surreal experience of being my mum’s MP.

"I know I can count on her to keep me informed of her views!

"I am a fan of football and cricket, and am especially looking forward to supporting the four non-league football teams in the constituency (not just Clitheroe, but Barnoldswick Town, Colne and Nelson too).

"It was a privilege to serve the public as a police inspector, and when taking my first steps into Parliament, ‘swearing in’ and learning the role, I have had that same feeling - excited to serve, and excited to get on with the job that the people of Pendle and Clitheroe have sent me to do.

"As someone who worked on the frontline of public service, I experienced first-hand the deterioration across our public services over the last fourteen years, and this is what led me to leave policing and pursue politics, to shape the fairer country I know we can create.

"There is so much to do to rebuild our country, and the new government faces some exceptionally difficult choices, but some of my local priorities will be to support residents through the cost of living crisis, rebuild our local NHS, restore neighbourhood policing, secure green investment for our area and to campaign for proper public transport.

"During the campaign, I promised to be a visible and accessible local MP, for every town, village and hamlet in this new, large constituency, and that is what I will be.

"I will be a strong, outspoken voice in Parliament for the people of Pendle & Clitheroe, whether they voted for me or not."

Mr Hinder has already begun holding his 'first come, first served 'constituency surgeries starting in Colne and Barnoldswick.

He is in the process of hiring a small staff team, and will soon be opening a main constituency office in Colne with a smaller, second office also planned in Clitheroe.