A Conservative MP has backed Prime Minister Boris Johnson in trying to improve access to opportunities for people across the country before praising King's Mill Hospital for helping his wife.

Lee Anderson, Conservative MP for Ashfield, explained how his wife was born with cystic fibrosis, describing it as an "early death sentence", and later required a double lung transplant. 

He said of the NHS: "They've kept her alive and last year she was elected as a Conservative councillor in our town."

He also spoke of his pride at visiting Number 10 for the first time - and meeting Larry the cat.

He  joked he was delighted to meet the "man himself" in Downing Street after also describing Parliament as an "amazing" place.

Making his maiden speech, Mr Anderson told the Commons: "I've met all these famous people. I've met MPs, I've met Lords, I've met ministers.

"But the best moment for me was last Wednesday night when I got invited to Downing Street, Number 10, for the first time ever in my life.

"I walked through that door and there he was, the man himself, Larry the cat."

Mr Anderson earlier said he was told to work hard in a bid to attend grammar school and avoid working down the pit.

He said the 11-plus was withdrawn before he could take it, explaining: "Just a few years later I was down the pit with my dad, working the pit where my granddad had worked, my uncles, I did that for many years.

"And I'm sure my dad, who is watching this right now, a decent hard-working, working-class bloke, didn't want me down the pit, he wanted better for me but that was taken away.

"I can't help but think that had children in my day had a chance to go to grammar school then they would have had more opportunities and probably had a better life.

"I'm telling you now, when I worked down those pits in Nottinghamshire I worked with doctors, brain surgeons, airline pilots, astronauts, all these brilliant people but they never had the chance."

Mr Anderson concluded by criticising those who say the Conservatives are a party of privilege, replying: "I say to people, I'm privileged to be in this party."