Luke Murphy

It has been a delight to debate this subject under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. I thank all the contributors and the Minister in particular for making himself available to respond to the debate. His speech really highlighted why we should celebrate Jane Austen as an author and all her contributions to the UK. I also thank the Minister for his celebration of reading. My dad passed in the last few weeks, and in the eulogy that I gave about him, I talked about my love of reading and his love of buying books. That really struck a chord with me, because his love of reading inspired both myself and my sister, so I really attached myself to his comments. If I am lucky enough to get the same debate this time next year, I will of course follow his mandate to have read six books in advance. I thank the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Mr French), who attempted his own creative fiction by suggesting that Jane Austen was a Conservative. He also highlighted how she was central to our cultural inheritance. I thank the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, the hon. Member for North East Fife (Wendy Chamberlain); as well as setting Jane Austen’s work in historical context, she inspired me to consider which literary figures might inspire our own Chief Whip to contribute to a Westminster Hall debate. I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for East Thanet (Ms Billington), who made a really powerful speech that highlighted structural violence and the conditions of women both today and in Austen’s day. She drew attention to the really important violence against women and girls strategy that was outlined today, and highlighted Austen’s links to Ramsgate. I thank the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Steff Aquarone) for briefly highlighting Jane Austen’s link to Cromer. The right hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) highlighted Austen’s deep links to Chawton and the contribution of many of his constituents to celebrating Jane Austen. My hon. Friend the Member for Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch (Katrina Murray) highlighted the many Jane Austen spin-offs, including “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”; the film inspired a conversation this week in my office about how one might survive a zombie apocalypse. My hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Ms Minns) gave us a tour of some of her favourite characters, including Elizabeth Bennet, who I know is also the favourite character of Holly in my office, not least because she refused to conform to social norms. My hon. Friend’s reference to quiet rebellion really captured much of Jane Austen’s work. I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) for her own very creative update of Jane Austen’s work. Finally, I thank the hon. Member for Winchester (Dr Chambers), who highlighted Jane Austen’s links to his constituency. He was very generous in his praise for my speech; I have to say that the praise should be directed to Holly and Cait in my office, who I believe greatly enjoyed writing the speech. Briefly, I pay tribute to Lucy Worsley, who is somewhat of an authority on Jane Austen. It is her birthday today, which is why she has not attended the debate—I wish her a happy birthday. I am grateful to all colleagues from across the House for their thoughtful contributions. I am incredibly grateful to all my constituents—Phil, Debbie, Joan, Tamsin, Adam, Paul, Catherine and many more—whose work and dedication ensures that Austen’s story continues to inspire new generations. Today we have helped to not just preserve Jane Austen’s legacy but affirm the enduring value of literature, creativity and the human stories that connect us all. Question put and agreed to. That this House has considered the cultural contribution of Jane Austen.