Jonathan Gullis has confirmed he will stand for the Commons Education Select Committee today after using his maiden speech in Parliament to thank a former teacher.

The new MP for Stoke-on-Trent, who was still teaching a month before being elected last December, said he hoped his Conservative colleagues would back him for the role.

Related: Former teacher-turned-MP pays tribute to man who taught him

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He temporarily returned to his day job at a Birmingham secondary school on the morning after his election win. 

As a former representative of the NASUWT teaching union, he said in his maiden speech to Parliament that he did not represent the typical “stereotype” of a Conservative.

He also praised his former teacher, Dr Simon Peaple, who taught him history and politics.