'Lord Doyle of Great Barford' champions East West Rail, Universal and Tempsford new town in first speech

Introduced to the House of Lords as ‘Lord Doyle of Great Barford’, he said: “I intend to champion these projects and more, because Britain needs to stop prevaricating and start building. Growth is not an abstract theory but an expression of our responsibility to future generations.”

“There are three major projects under way that together embody this government’s mission for growth.

“East West Rail – the vital link from Oxford to Cambridge – has the potential to not only transform connectivity but also unlock opportunity across the region.

“Alongside it sits the new Universal Studios theme park development just outside Bedford. It will undoubtedly be one of the region’s largest employers – creating 20,000 construction jobs; generating £50 billion of economic benefit and, something not often mentioned in economic policy: a whole lot of fun! And that, we can all definitely do with more of.

“And at Tempsford, the building of a new town gives us the chance to do something we have failed to do in recent years: to plan with ambition; build well; and design for communities and opportunity.

“As the New Towns Taskforce has said, this is an opportunity for exemplar development, delivering both homes and employment for the region.

“If we are serious about growth as a country, projects like these cannot be endlessly delayed or diluted. Growth does not happen by accident: it requires clarity of purpose, confidence to build and political will.”

Lord Doyle said Great Barford was the village he and his sister, Catherine, were born and grew up in. He paid tribute to his late sister, who went to St John’s Special School in Kempston, saying: “I want to remember my sister Catherine, who we lost more than 30 years ago; we still miss her every single day. Catherine was born with Down’s syndrome and, although she did not live to see it, the progress that has been made in healthcare and opportunities and visibility for people living with Down’s syndrome really has been wonderful to witness.”

Matthew’s parents, Peter and Barbara Doyle, who still live in Bedford, were present for the speech, and he added: “I am profoundly grateful that my parents are here today. When I say that I would not be here without them, I do not just mean that scientifically. They taught me so much, above all that every single individual can make a difference, and when you are born into that way of being, it really is a gift.”

Matthew Doyle went to St John Rigby, St Gregory’s and St Thomas More Schools in Bedford before going to the University of East Anglia in Norwich. He started working in the House of Commons in 1997 and his career has included two spells working in 10 Downing Street, one for Tony Blair (2005 – 2007) and one for Sir Keir Starmer (2024 – 2025). He now sits as a Labour member of the House of Lords.