Would Jane have been a rugby fan?

Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, has paid tribute in Parliament to one of the city's most famous residents, Jane Austen, using a witty speech to mark the end of the 250th anniversary year of the author's birth and to call for greater equality for women in education.

- Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath

Speaking in Parliament in a debate on Jane Austen's legacy, Mrs Hobhouse delivered her contribution in the style of a letter Austen might have written to her sister Cassandra, imagining the writer returning to Bath in 2025 and marvelling at how the city has changed.

Mrs Hobhouse reflected on Bath as a city that Jane Austen would still recognise today, speaking of its iconic "honey-coloured stone", and highlighted its enduring connection to her legacy, including the Jane Austen Centre and the annual Jane Austen Festival, which draws visitors from around the world.