Darlington's MP Peter Gibson launched his campaign for re-election today saying he felt "buoyed up and confident" as he prepared for the fight ahead.
Mr Gibson, who will become a prospective parliamentary candidate on Wednesday, was joined by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen this morning (Saturday, May 25) to kick off his campaign at the Firthmoor Community Centre.
Addressing his supporters he said: "I can tell just from looking at you all that we are ready for this fight - and what a fight we are going to have because there are challenges that we will face in the coming weeks.
"But we have got a fantastic record here in Darlington. We have delivered wait for it . . . £139 million for our train station £23.3 million in the Town's Fund, £35 million in our Rail Heritage Quarter £250 million for our northern bypass, a further 20 million for future town's fund."
Other achievements cited were £14 million to develop a hydrogen engine at Cummings £14 million to develop a vaccine library at CPI, the development of a new special school to the town and Treasury come to town with 750 jobs already and a further 700 to go.
He said: "It's a record that I am incredibly proud to stand on and I have no qualms in saying that I have worked tirelessly for the last four and a half years and that is recognised on the doorsteps."
Speaking to The Northern Echo he said: "I have a track record for delivering for our town and serving our people well.
"I believe I have four and half years of hard work under my belt and will bring that energy, that enthusiasm and the ambition for our town, to this campaign, as I continue to work hard over the next 41 days.
"I am doing my best to get to as many doors and speak to as many people. But it's been great already.
"Just in the last couple of days alone people have been stopping me in the street and saying 'Peter you’ve been the best MP we’ve ever had, you’ve worked really hard we love what you’re doing and we’re backing you'.
"So I feel really buoyed up, really confident. I'm not worried about what's going on elsewhere in the country. Whoever ends up in Downing Street, whoever gets elected in those other 649 seats - that is not my concern over the next 41 days.
"My concern is about campaigning hard to be reelected for this town I love."
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