TRIBUTES were paid to Chichester’s long-serving former Tory MP Andrew Tyrie by his Conservative successor Gillian Keegan in her maiden speech in Parliament.

Mrs Keegan, the district’s first female MP, who swept to victory in the General Election with 36,032 votes, praised one of Westminster’s most feared interrogators in her Commons bow.

“My predecessor, Andrew Tyrie, served this House and the people of Chichester with great distinction for 20 years,” she said.

“Andrew is best remembered for his strong chairmanship of the Treasury Select Committee, asking probing questions to bankers in the wake of the 2008 banking crisis without fear or favour. In Chichester, he is remembered for defending our A&E facility at St Richard’s hospital—a cause that I will continue to champion.

“I am very lucky to represent Chichester. It is set in the beautiful South Downs national park, and we have something for everyone: a historic, vibrant cathedral city with a world-famous theatre; the thriving town of Midhurst, the home of Cowdray Park; car and horse-racing at Goodwood; sailing at Bosham, Itchenor, Birdham and Dell Quay; and our vibrant fishing community in Selsey, which we look forward to growing, alongside our farming and agricultural businesses, as we leave the European Union.”

Congratulating Mrs Keegan (above) on her speech, the Speaker John Bercow, said he was already a big fan.

The MP for Buckingham said: “In congratulating the hon member for Chichester on her maiden speech, I want to say two things in the name of transparency.

“First, I inform the House that the hon Lady is the godmother of two of my children.

“Secondly, although it has been declared in all the appropriate places, I nevertheless take this opportunity to declare to the House her husband Michael – my very good friend of 32 years – generously contributed to each of my last three election campaign funds in the Buckingham constituency.”