The MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire has used her maiden speech in the House of Commons to call for urgent investment in key infrastructure. 

Speaking to MPs on November 6, Charlotte Cane urged the government to fix Ely junction, which she said was vital for the distribution of freight between ports. 

A chartered accountant, Ms Cane called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to include funding for the project in the spring spending review. 

It comes after the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group said upgrades to junctions at Ely and Haughley in Suffolk were "key" to unlocking economic growth across Britain. 

In a letter to transport secretary Louise Haigh, members said improvements would benefit freight and passenger services, as well as the environment. 

The Liberal Democrat MP also highlighted the diverse economic landscape of Ely and East Cambridgeshire, focussing on the work of Almath Crucibles. 

The local firm was recently awarded the King's Award for Innovation, one of only 59 companies to receive the coveted accolade. 

In addition to highlighting the natural beauty of the constituency and the work of the National Trust in protecting biodiversity at Wicken Fen, Ms Cane raised concerns over affordable housing. 

She said: "It is very expensive to buy or rent a home, which is pricing out young people and families. 

"We need to ensure that homes are built that are affordable for people to live in—not just homes that have an affordable price or rent but that are energy-efficient so that they are cheap to run."

Ms Cane's speech also included a stark admission about the shortage of NHS dental services, describing the constituency as a "dental desert". 

She spoke of residents forced to spend their life savings on dental treatment or resort to self-treatment, calling the situation “horrendous” and pledging to address the issue head-on.

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