Robert Jenrick: Doubling Newark to Nottingham trains is a priority

New Conservative MP Mr Robert Jenrick has said he hopes to double the number of trains between Newark and Nottingham and secure flood support money for people affected in places such as Southwell, Thurgarton, and Lowdham in the next 11 months before the General Election.

After winning the Newark by-election with a 7,403 majority, he accepted that the onus would now be on him to deliver on the issues he has been campaigning for, especially given the number of high-profile visits to the area by Conservative cabinet members.

He said: "First of all I want to establish myself as an effective and be an MP that people can trust and rely on. It's a great honour to be MP for Newark, and it's up to me to deliver now.

"I think Newark is a fantastic town and area which is thriving, but I want to see more investment here. I want to double the amount of trains to Nottingham and change the fact that it's a slower journey from Lincoln to Nottingham now than 50 years ago.

"I have brought the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin and George Osborne here, and I have won their support for these projects."

When asked if he had been worried about UKIP's challenge for the seat on election day, Mr Jenrick said: "I hope it was clear from the start that we put a lot into the campaign and that we didn't take anything for granted,

"This is a constituency which has been held by Labour and it's changed hands a number of years in the past. We fought a very local campaign, and I was very pleased to see the Prime Minister support me and I think people responded to that."

He said he would have an influence in the government whether it be regarding the issues at Newark Hospital or securing flood support money.