As anyone who’s had to speak at a wedding will tell you, everyone’s a bit nervous speaking in public. MPs are no different, but most reckon you need a bit of adrenaline to keep you on your toes otherwise you’ll bore everybody senseless. Of course if you get too hyped up you’ll gabble like a madman, so the trick is to strike the right balance, and to enjoy it.

Some MPs think the House of Commons is the scariest place to speak. They feel the ghosts of great orators like Churchill, Gladstone and Disraeli watching, and it gets to them. But so far, my main emotion has been relief rather than fear. When I made my maiden speech I had to sit through five hours of debate before it was my turn, and for my second speech I waited six. The rules are that if you leave the chamber for more than a few minutes while you’re waiting, you won’t be allowed to speak at all. So by the time you finally get to your feet, the nerves are long gone and you just want to get on with it.

But if the audience is friendly and positive, nerves aren’t usually a problem. I recently spoke at two local events where everyone was relaxed and welcoming, and had great fun. The first was with the 40 or so members and guests of Weston Rotary Club, which quietly raises large amounts of money for good causes every year and counts many of Weston’s finest among its members. The second was the Harvest Home in Wick St Lawrence, which had a record attendance of over 700 people showing their support for agriculture and the countryside. I may not have sounded like Churchill or Gladstone, but at least they were kind enough to laugh at my jokes.