STEVE Reed has used his maiden speech as MP for Croydon North to highlight how victims of last year's riots were "abandoned" by the Government.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Mr Reed said victims had not received compensation because of a "lack of support from the public authorities" and that one family had been left "struggling in debt".
Among the examples he mentioned during his speech in the House of Commons was Charlene Munro and her four-year-old son Cam'ron, whose home was gutted by fire.
"These are hard-working people – the backbone of their community, strivers," he added.
"I want to make a plea on their behalf, and on behalf of so many others like them, that the promises made to Croydon North after the riots must be met in full.
"The people who live and work there deserve nothing less."
Mr Reed, who was elected in last month's by-election, also paid tribute to his predecessor Malcolm Wicks, who passed away in September.
"If, when I finally leave this place, I have earned even a fraction of the respect and warmth that people felt for Malcolm Wicks, I will have done well," he added.
He was congratulated on his "exceptionally articulate" speech by Conservative MP for North Swindon Justin Tomlinson.
