Home > Maiden speech

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: Australian politician Pauline Hanson's maiden speech is an example of one which broke the tradition. 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.

Sample speeches

• Text of Richard Nixon's maiden speech to the United States House of Representatives
• Text of Pauline Hanson's maiden speech to the Australian House of Representatives
• Text of Andrew Lloyd Webber's maiden speech to the British House of Lords