It has been my great privilege to have been elected to represent Aycliffe since 2017 until last year. First as a County Councillor and then as your Member of Parliament. I would love to continue this and I am therefore standing as your Conservative candidate in the newly formed ward of Aycliffe South.
I hope you have seen my commitment to the town in both these roles, particularly as your MP where I tried hard to be available and accessible to everyone. I had my office open on the town within a couple of months of being elected and once we were past Covid I ran open surgeries at various venues across the town.
Probably the best part of being MP was the opportunity to meet and support so many great people in our community and we have so many doing amazing things like Community Spirit and Junction 7, or bringing people together like Rotary and the WI, not forgetting the many sports groups that do so much to help both young and old mix and feel better about themselves.
I am now doing my best to support organisations on the town like Lifeline Community Action; 5 Acres and the Scout Centre where I am fully engaged and, if elected, would continue to reach to these and others.
Aycliffe South is a large ward with different communities, both those in the town and those in Aycliffe Village and School Aycliffe, as MP I was able to engage with them all. An important part of the Aycliffe South ward though is the industrial estate and its many businesses. Having had a career in local manufacturing companies I understand their needs and as MP I got to understand the importance of politicians working together to support them. With a North East Mayor based on Tyneside we need our voice to be heard.
I am proud that, when as your Councillor, I worked cross party for Aycliffe and, as your MP, I regularly worked with MP’s from different parties to support the north east. Whilst Party politics happen at elections, I believe the rest of the time we need to work with everyone for the benefit of all and, as it is possible that Durham will have a Joint Administration again after 1st May we need elected Members who will cooperate with each other. I will be out and about campaigning over the next few weeks and if you would like to contact me please email: paul.howell.aycliffesouth@gmail.com
Paul Howell, Former MP for Sedgefield.