The Labour Party has announced , who was MP
for Stockton South from 2017 to 2019, will be the party’s
candidate for Hartlepool in the upcoming by-election caused by
the resignation of .
Paul is a family doctor who has been working on the frontline
during the ongoing pandemic. Throughout the crisis he has been
seeing coronavirus patients at Hartlepool’s One Life Centres and
working in the Urgent Care Centre at Hartlepool hospital.
Paul is married with two children. His wife, who is a nurse, has
been delivering vaccinations in the town. He spends his spare
time with his family and taking part in sport. His father was a
teacher and his mum was a nurse, who inspired him to go into
medicine.
, Labour’s
candidate for Hartlepool, said:
“It’s an honour to have been selected for Hartlepool. It’s a
brilliant town with fantastic people and a bright future. Working
during this crisis I’ve seen the NHS at its best and fighting for
services at our local hospital would be my top priority as your
MP.
“But the NHS isn’t being looked after properly by the Tories.
They closed Hartlepool’s A&E in 2011 and other services have
been taken away since. I’ll fight for our hospital and for the
services we need.
“The Tories have let Hartlepool down. Over the past decade of
being in power they’ve taken from Hartlepool, taken police off
the streets and taken services from our local hospital. The
Tories on Teesside are focussed on Stockton and Middlesbrough and
Hartlepool gets the crumbs from the table, if we get anything at
all.
“We don’t want people to have to go out of the town to get good
jobs or go to hospital or to the shops. We want jobs and services
right here in Hartlepool for local people. That’s what I’ll be
fighting for as Hartlepool’s MP.”
MP, Leader of the Labour Party, said:
“Paul has already been keeping local people safe as a doctor
during the Covid crisis – he will be a powerful voice for the
town as its next MP. I can’t wait to campaign alongside him.
“Over the last year, the Labour Party has been listening and
changing: returning the party to the people. That’s why at this
election we’ll be fighting to secure Hartlepool’s local economy,
protect its NHS and then rebuild the town after the pandemic.”
Brenda Harrison, Leader of Hartlepool Labour Group, said:
“I’m delighted that Paul has been selected as candidate and I
know he will be a brilliant MP for our town. As a doctor he knows
full well what we have all been through over the past year.
“He has worked on the frontline of the crisis as a covid doctor
and I’m just so thankful for all he has done for keeping the
people of Hartlepool safe and well. I can’t think of anyone
better to stand up for Hartlepool in Parliament.”
A spokesperson for Hartlepool Constituency Labour Party, said:
“Paul Williams was the standout choice of the CLP and we are
delighted with this decision. We wanted a candidate in place
early so we can use every day campaigning for Labour and put
across our positive message.”
