Message to Members
I have lived in our community for more than 30 years, established my home in Stockton North and brought up my family here. I've also represented our people over the last 20 years on Cleveland County and Stockton Borough Councils leading the education and children's services agenda for much of that time.Throughout the years I have held many roles in the Labour Party from branch secretary to constituency chair - and I have extensive knowledge of our community, our people and their needs. I have led campaigns, worked with the local community forums and other groups and played my part as a Billingham councillor and in making our Borough Council the best all purpose authority in the country. I've been a trade unionist since I started work at 19.
It's been a privilege and pleasure to serve the Labour Party in these ways and today I hope I can start winning your support to be the next Labour Member of Parliament for Stockton North.
Over the coming weeks you will be inundated with letters, leaflets and booklets from potential candidates from as far away as London, Manchester, Bristol - maybe even from Lands End or John O'Groats. They'll all be trying to win your support and pledging to move to Stockton. I don't need to make that pledge - I am already here and will be staying. I only hope I can persuade you that it's in the best interests of our community to have a LOCAL person representing you.
That will mean an MP who is steeped in local knowledge and visible in his own community; a first class communicator who will be in constant touch with members and the electorate; contact and constituency services second to none; a partner and champion for the Council, the local Health Service and other groups; and a person loyal to a Labour Government helping build on what has already been achieved.
Soon you will hear of a series of meetings being planned to encourage you to help select your next MP. I very much hope you will take part and I look forward to an early opportunity to meet you and discuss in detail just why I believe I am the right person to represent you.
In the meantime, if you would like to contact me, please telephone me on Stockton 551251 or 07785 290231 or e-mail. Thank you.
Yours sincerely
Alex Cunningham