TO JUDGE from his Twitter feed – "Hoping to make my maiden speech shortly, aaaaarrgghh" – MP Jesse Norman was feeling understandably nervous in the Commons on the evening of Monday, June 14th. But at 9.23pm, he delivered a polished speech that had praise, politics, references to Mark Twain, John Maynard Keynes and Ernie Bevin – and several good quips.

Norman was 'hoping' to speak, because the chance to do so is not automatic: an MP needs to get the nod from the Speaker, not easily had during a busy session. But Monday evening's session was quiet, and Norman got his slot.

Speaking to the Ross Gazette the following day, Norman said that a maiden speech is "famously the moment when a politician comes of age", and explained that his intention was "to make a national point, and not just a narrowly parochial one".

The new MP for South Herefordshire began by acknowledging the prestige of his job. "I know that every Member of this House will join me in saying that it is the greatest honour of all to be chosen to sit in this august Chamber; to have a share, however small, in the supreme sovereign authority in this country; and to walk in these hallowed halls and corridors."

Next, doing his bit to sustain the current atmosphere of coalition bonhomie, he paid magnanimous tribute to his Lib Dem predecessor. "South Herefordshire has always been well served by its MPs, and I would like to pay particular tribute to Paul Keetch, a Herefordian born and bred, who built up a reputation over 13 years as a fine constituency MP.

"Hereford city reputedly has the largest container of alcoholic beverage in the world – I should say, outside the Palace of Westminster – at Bulmers, and Paul has worked very hard over many years to protect and support the cider industry, most recently against the ill-advised depredations of the cider duty."

In contrast, as if to prove parliament isn't one big hallowed and august love-in, he wound up a passage of praise for his constituency with a swipe at one of New Labour's most divisive characters. "Truly, Herefordshire is a glorious county, known throughout the world for the quality of its cider, its beef and its soldiers. Such is its beauty that it has only been slightly disfigured by a recent association with the noble Lord Mandelson, who has added 'of Foy' to an already rather extensive title."