BARROW'S MP paid tribute to Furness's most famous sons and daughters as she made her maiden speech in parliament.

Michelle Scrogham, who was elected for Labour in July's general election, lauded the history of the area as she made her first speech in the House of Commons.

She praised the most famous faces to come out of Furness, including Stan Laurel, painter George Romney and footballers Emlyn Hughes and Georgia Stanway.

Mrs Scrogham also described her pride at being the first woman and first local to serve as the MP for Barrow and Furness.

Speaking in the chamber, she said: "We have many famous sons and daughters from Barrow and Furness. Stan Laurel, comedy giant and half of the duo Laurel and Hardy, was born in Ulverston.

"My apologies to my honourable Friend the Member for Bishop Auckland (Sam Rushworth); his town has been trying to claim Stan Laurel for years, but he was definitely an Ulverston lad.

"Dalton, the ancient capital of Furness, was birthplace and early home of famous painter George Romney, and Tommy Johnson, the third-highest goal scorer for Man City, who made five appearances for England and scored in every single match.

Stan Laurel

"That might be a bit too far back for most to remember, because he was born in 1901, but other Barrow-born football heroes are Emlyn Hughes, whose statue now graces Abbey Road in Barrow, and Georgia Stanway, who I believe is now overdue her own statue for her achievements in the England squad.

"Sir John Barrow, famous son of Ulverston, became the second secretary to the admiralty—to you and me, that is in charge of the Navy.

"He wrote the report that became the basis for what we now know as the mutiny on the Bounty.

"He was the last man to shake Lord Nelson’s hand as he departed on HMS Victory for Trafalgar, and was a great promotor of Arctic voyages of discovery, with many places around the globe now named after him, including Barrow strait, Cape Barrow and Point Barrow in Alaska, but oddly not Barrow-in-Furness."

Mrs Scrogham also paid tribute to her predecessor, Conservative Simon Fell, and urged other MPs to visit Barrow and Furness, describing it as the 'best constituency'.