Courageous first steps for new MPs

Mark D'Arcy|11:29 UK time, Thursday, 27 May 2010

The most terrifying rite of passage for new MPs is the maiden speech. By tradition they are heard without interruption and the newcomer is expected to say something nice about their predecessor, while steering clear of controversy.

As of 11am this morning, those who have screwed their courage to the sticking place are:

Richard Harrington, Con (Watford); Chris Williamson, Lab (Derby North); Mark Spencer, Con (Sherwood); David Morris, Con (Morecambe & Lunesdale) Col Bob Stewart, Con (Beckenham); Yasmin Qureshi, Lab (Bolton South East); James Morris, Con (Halesowen and Rowley Regis):Gordon Birtwistle, LibDem (Burnley); Thomas Docherty, Lab (Dunfermline & West Fife); John Woodcock, Lab (Barrow & Furness); Julian Huppert, Lib Dem (Cambridge).

UPDATE: Therese Coffey, Con (Sfk Coastal); Chris Evans, Lab (Islwyn) and Henry Smith, Con (Crawley) have now broken their ducks.

UPDATE 2: And some more - they're really piling in today:

Ian Paisley Jnr, DUP (North Antrim); Damian Collins, Con (Folkestone and Hythe); Tom Greatrex, Lab (Rutherglen and Hamilton West); Angie Bray, Con (Ealing Central and Acton); Caroline Lucas, Green (Brighton Pavilion); Neil Parish, Con (Tiverton & Honiton); Peter Aldous, Con (Waveney); Zac Goldsmith, Con (Richmond Park); John Glen, Con (Salisbury).

Update 3:Chris Heaton-Harris, Con (Daventry); Nick de Bois, Con (Enfield North); Stephen Mosley, Con (City of Chester).

That's 28 maidens in the three days of debate - the ducks are being broken at a faster rate than anticipated. There are only two debating days next week, but even so, at this rate, most of the Commons newcomers will have dealt with this particular ordeal before the summer recess.