David Smith:
A Bright Future for Northumberland
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Select David Smith
for North Northumberland
At the General Election we have the greatest chance in a generation to elect a Labour MP for parts of Northumberland that have never been marked red on the electoral map. With the creation of the North Northumberland Constituency, I believe that we can achieve this together. It would be the greatest honour of my life to be selected as your Labour candidate for the next General Election.
We’re all rightly proud of the beauty, heritage and community spirit that we have in Northumberland. It’s now time to ensure that North Northumberland has a future that shines as brightly as our past.
Recent by-elections show that nowhere is safe anymore for the Tories. We can and must return a Labour MP here. I promise to work with you and to bring all of my experience to ensure that we succeed.
My Top Priorities
Cost of Living and inequality
Our economy is failing working people under the Tories, pushing millions into poverty and dependence on Food Banks. I will work to bring down energy prices, to support local businesses and for a welfare system that really is the safety net that people need when times are tough.
Social Housing
We have a housing crisis in this country, with quality, affordable homes outside of the reach of many working people and most young people. Young families find it increasingly difficult to buy a home in the county. We must build more high quality, suitable and affordable social housing within Northumberland.
High-skilled, well-paid, Green jobs of the future
We all want our young people to build a prosperous future in towns like Berwick, Morpeth and Alnwick. But they need decent jobs so they can stay and thrive here. I’ll fight for the inward investment of new green technologies that offer the possibility of high-skilled and well-paid jobs, and for the transport infrastructure we need in order to attract it.
Repair the NHS & fix Social Care
14 years of Tory outsourcing and cronyism has left the NHS on life support. Labour invented the NHS and only we know how to get it back on track, whilst fixing social care. We must reinvest in our NHS services and – in a largely rural constituency - keep them as locally accessible as possible.
A unified and generous Britain
I will speak up for our country, for the Union and for the Common Good: I’ll champion what we have in common and build bridges across divides. Our country is largely generous, tolerant and full of common sense. The history of the UK is complex but has shaped our unique character and we have so much to offer the world.
Listen to David setting out his vision...
Experience | Unity | Integrity
I’ve been working for Labour values through leadership in the Charity Sector for the last 20 years: values like fairness, justice, compassion and empowering the vulnerable. For the last 7 years I’ve led a homelessness charity in the North East which supports people through personal crisis; crises which have been made worse by the collapse of public services and the rise of the cost of living overseen by the Conservative government for over a decade.
I’m angry that for 14 years Tory slogans and policies have fallen flat: where the promise of ‘Levelling-Up’ has become a country with a widening gap between the rich and the rest, and where ‘the Northern Powerhouse’ has resulted in the North East being left behind in terms of transport, investment and poverty.
Yet I’m standing for selection because I believe that things can get better. I believe that there can be a brighter future for our county and our country: but we can only achieve this together.
GETTING THINGS DONE
When I moved to the North East 15 years ago, it was very unusual to see anyone begging on the street. I was horrified as under the Tories it became the new normal. That’s why I became CEO of a homelessness charity that works across the region, and I have spent the last 7 years leading the response to the housing and homelessness crisis. My desire to get things done is at the heart of my Labour party activism. It’s also why I became Chair of my CLP. I like to get things done.
Now is the time for a Labour government
I grew up in a family for whom the Labour movement was transformational. I’ve seen the legacy of my grandparent's Labour activism in the transformation of their community and it’s shaped me. I’m standing for selection now because I’m tired of cleaning up the damage that the Tories have done. Only a Labour government can fix the NHS, tackle the Housing Crisis, repair the social safety net, deal with spiralling prices, save the Union and restore the global reputation of the UK. These issues are having a big impact, and there’s no-one but the Tories to blame. As your candidate I would make sure that the people of North Northumberland know this. Heaven forbid the Tories succeed in pulling the wool over the electorate’s eyes yet again.
Principles Matter
"David is a hardworking campaigner, and someone who can unify the party in North Northumberland. I'm supporting him to become Labour's candidate."
Cllr Scott Dickinson
Leader of Labour Group, Northumberland County Council; County Councillor for Druridge Bay
"David has a very clear commitment to our communities that are feeling left behind by 14 years of Tory Government. I know he would be a fantastic candidate and MP."
Cllr Liz Dunn
Labour County Councillor, Lynemouth
I’m impressed by David’s commitment to Labour values and I’m convinced that his experience qualifies him to be a great Member of Parliament for North Northumberland.
Bill Grisdale
Former Chair, Berwick CLP
"It's time for Northumberland to become a national leader in renewable energy technology. David gets this, and I'm excited about what we can achieve in Northumberland if he becomes our MP".
Tricia Cresswell
Local member and campaigner, Alnwick
DAVID IS ENDORSED BY
