Moments after the election result was announced in Reading West and Mid Berkshire, the Labour candidate Olivia Bailey was handed an envelope.
“It had Member of Parliament on the front,” she said. It was around 6.30am on Friday morning, and the letter inside gave a list of things to expect in the coming days.
“I rang my dad and got him out of bed to tell him. It was a long night wasn’t it! I had to go home and take the kids to school straight after as well.”
“It was close and we were on tenterhooks all night. I am so thrilled to see the Cabinet appointed. There are some talented people there and I am looking forward to seeing what they can do.”
Early TV interviews of senior cabinet members, and even Sir Keir himself, show some similarity of dress code, suggesting the image consultants have been onboarded.
A mauve tie, preferred over the usual bright red. Dark suits. White shirts. Has Ms Bailey been given any style advice by central office?
“No, definitely no style advice,” she says. “I will very much plough my own furrow there I think. No red ties for me.”
As the result was announced at the counting hall at Newbury College, a collective whoop went up from the Labour team, including Ms Bailey’s wife.
“It was very special she was there,” she said.
“I called my dad straight after which was also special. My mum as well. I mentioned her in my acceptance speech.
“Mum has Alzheimer’s so it’s really tough but still very special to talk to her about it. I think she is very proud of me.”
Ms Bailey has already had her first induction into the Houses of Parliament, and, like any new job, is still getting to grips with the IT.
She is looking for a shop front office to be visible in the constituency.
She said: “I am really excited and a bit nervous as being in such a wonderful place is amazing.
“But I am also really determined to deliver the things I promised in the campaign, and I feel really humbled by the trust people have put in me.
“I’ll be talking to the health secretary about our new hospital at the RBH.”
Both health secretary Wes Streeting MP and chancellor Rachel Reeves MP reinforced the pledge made by the previous Government to rebuild the RBH in the run up to the election.
“I am pleased we have committed thst we will build it,” added Ms Bailey.
As for cleaning up the rivers, she says, bravely, that she will be rolling her sleeves up to get rid of the sewage.
“There are clear plans nationally to deal with this,” she adds, including tougher regulation and banning the bonuses as well as criminal liability for water bosses.
She also pledged to protect the countryside.
“It is the quintessential English countryside here,” she said. “I am determined to be a really strong voice for it.
“I’ve talked a lot about supporting our farmers, buying their produce for our public services as well as working with our fantastic conservationists.”
As we spoke, Rachel Reeves was on her feet in Parliament announcing plans to lift planning restrictions to build more houses.
This could have an impact for a largely rural consituency like Reading West and Mid Berkshire, but the new MP seems confident she can protect the region from the tarmac, or a proliferation of solar farms on agricultural land.
“Labour’s plans are really clear that any development has to be with public consent and with sufficient infrastructure.
“We have had a lot of building in this constituency which has not have proper infrastructure.
“We can’t just keep filling in little spots of green.”
Swearing in takes place over the next week, but maiden speeches follow later.
