A NEW MP has called for fairer government grants and new powers from Whitehall to shape Burnley’s destiny as a 21st century success matching its achievements in the 19th.

Julie Cooper, the former Burnley Council leader, who took the seat by 3,244 votes from Liberal Democrat Gordon Birtwistle last month, was making her maiden speech at Westminster.

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Mrs Cooper told government ministers in her first address to the House of Commons: “During the industrial revolution, Burnley came to prominence as the town that produced more cotton than any other in the world.

“It undoubtedly played its part in making Britain the richest country in the world at that time.

“Even now, in the 21st century, much of the industrial landscape has survived and we are keen to protect our heritage.

“That does not mean that we want to turn our town into a museum.

“We are moving forward, using our past to provide the foundations for our future.

“Our old mills, sitting on the banks of the Leeds and Liverpool canal, are being sensitively adapted to serve the new industries .”

Mrs Cooper highlighted major international manufacturing companies in Burnley including Aircelle, Veka, AMS Neve, Futaba Tenneco and Kaman and new firms coming there such as Panaz, Vodafone Automotive and Exertis, She said: “Most people will not know that 90 per cent of the sound systems used in Hollywood studios are made exclusively and entirely in Burnley.

“Burnley has a future as a centre of excellence for advanced manufacturing on the world playing field and can play acentral role in the development of a northern powerhouse.

“I am passionately committed to working to make this vision a reality .

“We need to have a fair share of resources, and we need delegated powers to shape our own destiny.”

Mrs Cooper told her new MP colleagues: “The rolling hills that are visible everywhere truly are a paradise for walkers.”