SOUTH Dorset’s new MP, Lloyd Hatton said he has had a “busy week” after being sworn in as an MP and plans to go back to school in his second week in office.

Mr Hatton was elected as the new MP after receiving 15,659 votes, beating former Conservative MP Richard Drax, who received 14,611.

Mr Hatton travelled up to London on Sunday, July 7, and was formally sworn in as an MP on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Hatton said: “It has been a busy one.

“I want to set up my constituency office as soon as possible with staff so that we have people to support the constituents of South Dorset all year round. That is my number one priority.

“On the Parliament side it has been a lot of training and briefing which has been helpful.

“I think it is still sinking in. I am enjoying being the representative of my home.

“I have sat on the green benches once before when I was a Member of Youth Parliament, but when the speaker was elected, that was my first time as an MP on the green benches."

Mr Hatton was one of four Labour MPs elected in the county, alongside Bournemouth East MP Tom Hayes, Bournemouth West MP Jessica Toale and Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan.

“It was very full on the Labour side of The Commons.

“There are four Dorset MPs, that is the big difference between Jim Knight and I.

“It is fantastic, I have spent a lot of time with those other three Dorset MPs and where we can we will continue to work together as a team of MPs."

Before the election, Mr Hatton was a Labour councillor in Camden.

On Friday afternoon, he announced that he had stepped down as a councillor, saying he made clear that "being the MP for South Dorset would be my only job".

In the week ahead, Mr Hatton is planning to return to school, visiting teachers and pupils of schools he attended.

He added: “I am hoping to pay a visit to both my old primary school and secondary school, Holy Trinity and All Saints, to speak to teachers and the kids there.

“I am looking forward to meeting them all and engaging with the other schools in South Dorset in the future.

“It is important that young people get to see their local MP.”