Chemical engineer Chris McDonald has said he is honoured to have been picked as Labour’s next parliamentary candidate for Stockton North.

He and four others – Jessie Joe Jacobs, Matt Storey, Tracey Paul, and Ash Singh – vied to contest the seat in the traditional Labour stronghold. They hoped to replace Labour MP Alex Cunningham, who will stand down at the next general election after more than three decades in public life.

Mr McDonald said after his selection: “I am truly honoured to have been selected by local members in Stockton North. The people of here deserve an MP that will carry on Alex Cunningham’s fantastic work, and fight for them every step of the way.

“I’m proud of Teesside and I want to take our battle to Westminster. where we need more working class MPs, like me, with real world experience.

“Stockton has suffered as a result of the last 13 years of this Tory government. The people I speak to every day are struggling. Struggling to feed their families, struggling to pay their energy bills.

“The North East has the highest rate of child poverty in the country, and that is unacceptable. We need change, we need a Labour government.

“I’d also like to thank Alex Cunningham, for all he has achieved since being elected in 2010. His hard work for our town and Teesside more widely shows just what a dedicated public servant he is.”

 

Alex Cunningham

Alex Cunningham

 

He is chief executive officer of the Materials Processing Institute and policy chair for Innovation and Enterprise for the Federation of Small Businesses, after 20 years in the Teesside steel industry.

Labour says he “knows these communities inside and out. He will fight tooth and nail to get the best deal for the people of Stockton North and will be working every second from now, listening to their priorities and making sure they’re heard.”

Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough, said: “Many congratulations to Chris McDonald on his selection to be Labour’s Stockton North candidate at the next general election. It was a very healthy selection competition so thanks and congratulations go to all the excellent shortlisted candidates.

“I have worked with Chris for many years and as well as being extremely able, hard-working and well grounded, with his steel industry expertise, he’s an authoritative voice on industrial strategy which is so important to us on Teesside. He will make a superb representative in Parliament seamlessly picking up from the excellent Alex Cunningham when Alex retires at the next election.

“I am really looking forward to working with Chris to deliver a Labour government that our Teesside constituents so desperately need.”

Matt Storey tweeted last night: “Thank you to everyone who voted for me. Sadly it wasn’t to be but I’m delighted for Chris McDonald. He will make a great Member of Parliament for Stockton North and I wish him the best of luck.”

Jessie Joe Jacobs tweeted: “It’s been a privilege to have spent the past weeks speaking with members across Stockton North and I’d like to thank every single person who put their faith in me. I’m delighted for Chris McDonald who will make a great MP, and I look forward to supporting him in his campaign.

“Ash Singh, Matt Storey and Tracey Paul all ran brilliant campaigns. It was an honour to stand alongside them.”

Ash Singh tweeted: “Congratulations to Chris McDonald. You will make a great Labour MP for Stockton North!”

Former Labour MP Anna Turley tweeted: “Fantastic news! Well done. You will be a fantastic asset to Teesside and to Labour. Members in Stockton North had a great choice.”