Jody Dunn selected for Hartlepool

3.37.50pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 30th Jul 2004

Jody Dunn is the Lib Dem choice for Hartlepool

Last night Jody Dunn was selected to contest the forthcoming by-election to become the Member of Parliament for the Hartlepool constituency. Jody Dunn, 35, is a prominent local barrister working in the area of family law with chambers in Middlesbrough. She is married to Martin and has four children: Charlie (10), Saskia (9), Lucy (8) and Cameron (3).

Jody will be a strong voice and advocate for the people of Hartlepool and is pledged to be a local MP who lives and works within the constituency.

Jody Dunn said:

"I am honoured and delighted to be chosen by the Liberal Democrats.

"I am looking forward to taking on the Labour Party who have taken local people for granted for too long. I can promise the people of Hartlepool I will do my very best to represent the community.

"I will be standing up for the concerns of local people - fighting on issues of saving our local hospital, safer streets, tackling crime with more bobbies on the beat, real jobs for the people of Hartlepool, and support for local shops and traders.

"Above all, of course, this election will be about the failure of Labour and the lack of trust local people have in Tony Blair. Local people feel Tony Blair has forgotten the issues around here. Towns and cities in the south of England have grown richer under Labour whilst here in the North East we have been neglected.

"I am looking to enjoy this election with the full support of my family, the local party and the Liberal Democrats. This is a great chance for Hartlepool - it is a chance for change and I'm ready to get on with the campaign."

Jody was selected by a vote of all the members of Hartlepool Liberal Democrats and was the clear choice of local members.

Much has changed in Hartlepool since the 2001 General Election, including Labour losing the Mayoral election and significant Liberal Democrat by-election successes in Brent East, Birmingham Hodge Hill and Leicester South. If the swings of any of these three by-elections were to be repeated in Hartlepool, Jody Dunn would be elected.

The Conservatives have effectively thrown in the towel and have conceded that Hartlepool is not natural territory for them. Their candidate from the 2001 General Election has said they cannot win.