I want to start by thanking everyone who’s emailed or written to me with local concerns or issues. My constituency office team have now started and we’re working hard to make sure all of the issues are picked up. If you’d like to contact me, you can get in touch via email to:
alan.strickland.mp@parliament.uk
My last week in Parliament, before recess, was a busy one. Safeguarding the 700 world-class engineering jobs at Hitachi Rail in Newton Aycliffe remains a top priority for me as your MP. Following a site visit to the plant with other regional MPs, I led a meeting for MPs from around the North East with the Transport Secretary in Parliament. I was pleased to hear that ministers have got civil servants working at pace to explore all available options with the Hitachi management team.
I also met trade union officials at the plant to update them and discuss the important issue of how we maintain as many jobs at the factory as we can, despite the very difficult situation they were left in.
I’ll be in regular contact with Transport Ministers, Hitachi senior leaders and union representatives to keep the pressure on to push for this to be resolved.
Whilst in Westminster, I was honoured to be appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Education Secretary. This role means I’ll work closely with Bridget Phillipson MP and her ministerial team to deliver Labour’s ambitious education policies. This includes free breakfast clubs, recruiting 6500 more teachers, childcare in 3000 nurseries and providing mental health support in every school.
Back here at home, I’ve been working closely with the Northern Echo to put pressure on the Environment Agency to tackle the unpleasant smell that residents in Aycliffe Village, the town and surrounding areas have been complaining about for many months. I’ve written a joint letter to the Environment Agency with Darlington MP Lola McEvoy whose constituents in Brafferton and North Darlington are also affected. We’ve requested an urgent update, a site visit, results from the air quality testing they’ve undertaken with the UK Health Security Agency and a public meeting with officials to set out the latest to residents.
Finally, I’ve been appalled by the rioting and disorder that we’ve seen, including in parts of the North East. This has only involved very small numbers of people, but has caused serious damage to local businesses and community centres, as well as leaving police officers hospitalised. Our Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has been clear that violence on Britain’s streets will never be tolerated. The government has courts on standby to sentence violent offenders, 24 hours a day, to ensure justice is done clearly and swiftly. Anyone found to be attacking people, properties or the police should expect to be dealt with very severely. We are a proud, civilised nation where this sort of organised criminality will not go unpunished.
Aycliffe is a strong and longstanding community. We will rise above the hate and division that a tiny minority of people are trying to ferment on social media. We are stronger together.
Alan Strickland, MP for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor.