Maiden speech

Maiden speech

A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.

Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country. In many Westminster system governments, there is a convention that maiden speeches should be relatively uncontroversial, often consisting of a general statement of the politician's beliefs and background rather than a partisan comment on a current topic. This convention is not always followed, however; for example the maiden speeches of Pauline Hanson in the Australian House of Representatives and Richard Nixon in the United States House of Representatives broke the tradition. Margaret Thatcher's maiden speech was the successful introduction of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.

There is also a strong convention in some countries that maiden speeches should not be subjected to interruption or interjection and should not be attacked or dismissed by subsequent speakers.[citation needed] Another convention in the UK House of Commons is that a Member of Parliament will include tribute in a maiden speech to previous incumbents of their seat.

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Synonyms:
(in public)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Maiden speech — Maiden Maid en, a. 1. Of or pertaining to a maiden, or to maidens; suitable to, or characteristic of, a virgin; as, maiden innocence. Amid the maiden throng. Addison. [1913 Webster] Have you no modesty, no maiden shame ? Shak. [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • maiden speech — maiden speeches N COUNT A politician s maiden speech is the first speech that he or she makes in parliament after becoming a member of it. [BRIT] …   English dictionary

  • maiden speech — noun count the first speech that a politician makes after being elected for the first time …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Maiden speech — (engl., spr. mēden ßpītsch), s. Jungfernrede …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Maiden speech — (engl., spr. mehd n spihtsch), Jungfernrede, die erstmalige Rede eines Versammlungsmitgliedes …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • maiden speech — the first speech made in a legislature by a newly elected member. [1785 95] * * * maiden speech noun A person s first speech, esp that of an MP in Parliament • • • Main Entry: ↑maiden * * * maiden speech UK US noun [countable] [singular maiden sp …   Useful english dictionary

  • maiden speech — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms maiden speech : singular maiden speech plural maiden speeches the first speech that a politician makes in Parliament after being elected for the first time …   English dictionary

  • maiden speech — {n. phr.} One s first public speech, usually before some legislative body. * /It was the new congressman s maiden speech and everyone was listening very keenly./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • maiden speech — {n. phr.} One s first public speech, usually before some legislative body. * /It was the new congressman s maiden speech and everyone was listening very keenly./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • maiden\ speech — n. phr. One s first public speech, usually before some legislative body. It was the new congressman s maiden speech and everyone was listening very keenly …   Словарь американских идиом

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