Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman is Labour’s hardest working politician, figures suggest.

Mr Sheerman, an MP since 1979, spoke in 138 Westminster debates in 2015 – the most of any Labour party member and the third highest of all 651 MPs, excluding the Speaker of the House.

The Examiner revealed last June that Mr Sheerman contributed to an astonishing 744 debates between 2010-15.

Only three MPs made more contributions.

And the veteran Huddersfield MP, who was returned to Westminster last May with a majority of 7,345, has no intention of shutting up.

Mr Sheerman, 75, said he knew a thing or two about how to get permission to speak among competition from dozens of other MPs.

“You play it by light and by shade,” he said. “It’s harder on our side of the house but I’ve done the apprenticeship.

“I know how to use the house in terms of raising issues.

“You learn, like in all good apprenticeships, how to do a good job.

“When I finished ten years on the front bench I decided I wanted to be a really good parliamentarian.

“It’s a brilliant way of raising a big issue.”

Debate speeches in 2015

Examiner Data Unit

Mr Sheerman said he often liked to jump in after a Conservative minister and would also say shocking things to grab people’s attention then change the subject onto a more important issue.

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He added: “If you’re in parliament on a Thursday and you’re a proper back-bencher you go to Question Time and ask a question or two.

“Then there’s a statement so you can get in on that. Then there’s business questions where you can mention anything you like.”

More than 100 MPs spoke 12 times or fewer during the whole of 2015.