I am proud of my record as the MP for Redcar constituency over the past two years.

Full statement

I have never stopped fighting to defend industry, oppose Tory cuts to our schools and hospitals, protect the vulnerable, and secure investment. Every day I have made sure Teesside’s voice is heard loud and clear in Westminster.

Fighting to bring jobs to our area will always be my top priority. Decent, skilled jobs that give local families on Teesside the security of being able to pay the bills and provide a good standard of living. Not the insecure jobs, zero hours’ contracts, and bogus self-employment that we have seen under this Tory Government.

I want our children to learn in the best schools so there is no ceiling to their ambition and will fight for the investment needed to deliver that. Keeping our streets safe means we need to invest in our police too, not cut funding as the Tories have done leading to fewer bobbies on the beat. Our campaign for tougher legislation on animal cruelty must also continue if we are to get justice for Baby and Scamp.

Seven years of Tory austerity has hit Teesside. They closed our steelworks and our closing our medical centres. Now they are coming back with policies like the dementia tax, cutting the winter fuel allowance, scrapping free schools meals, and slashing school budgets.

I am standing again so I can continue fighting back for Teesside and securing the jobs, investment and decent public services we need.

Source: http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/redcar-general-election-2017-candidates-13142545