I’ve been forged in industry with 20 years in steel, on Teesside. I’ve run a successful business, developing green technologies and creating hundreds of jobs locally.

I come from a working-class background and I understand what it is like when you’ve worked hard, but there isn’t enough to go round. We have some of the greatest challenges with child poverty and poor health. We need more politicians with real world experience, like me, who know how to get things done.

I know the power of education – I was sponsored by British Steel as an Engineer and made it my priority to work on Teesside, where I have fought hard for local industry ever since. I want all our young people to have the opportunity of a great education, apprenticeships and jobs, so that they can choose to work and live here too.

I am proud of what we have achieved here and optimistic about what we will achieve in the future. We built ships, processed chemicals and made the Covid vaccine. I’m ambitious about the future for Stockton, Billingham and Norton. We can make this one of the best places in the country to live, work and bring up a family.