Wellingborough's new Labour MP takes her seat in Parliament

Gen Kitchen read the Oath of Allegiance in front of fellow MPs in the House of Commons chamber

The new Labour MP for Wellingborough in Northamptonshire has taken her seat in the House of Commons.

Gen Kitchen overturned an 18,540 majority in the seat previously held by Peter Bone, who was ousted following a recall petition.

Ms Kitchen recited the Parliamentary Oath and shook the Speaker's hand.

The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, said she had "made history" before she had even been sworn in, which was a "fantastic achievement".

Ms Kitchen bowed at the bar of the House of Commons before swearing the oath

Dressed in red, Ms Kitchen approached the bar of the House of Commons and bowed before she headed towards the despatch box.

There, she recited the words set out in the Promissory Oaths Act of 1868, which promised "allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law".

Ms Kitchen was then invited to sign the Test Roll, the record of oaths sworn by MPs, before being introduced to the Speaker by the Clerk of the House of Commons, Tom Goldsmith.

Ms Kitchen shook the hand of the speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, after swearing the oath

She was followed down the chamber by Damien Egan, who overturned a slightly smaller Conservative majority to take the Kingswood by-election on the same night.

They both joined a photocall at Westminster Hall, the historic building where Queen Elizabeth II lay in state before her funeral.

Sir Keir introduced Ms Kitchen and Mr Egan as "our brilliant candidates" who had "overcome incredible majorities, the likes of which we wouldn't normally be able to overturn, making history before they'd even been sworn in as members of Parliament."

He added: "But, and there's always a but from me, particularly as a football fan, one good result in February doesn't win you the league.

"We need to stay focused, stay disciplined, celebrate these fantastic new members of Parliament and go on and win that general election."

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, who described the by-election losses as "difficult" mid-term elections, has called on Conservative voters to unite to keep Sir Keir out of Number 10.