Peter Gibson is the Conservative candidate for Darlington.
North East Bylines asked candidates for our 27 constituencies ten questions on a range of subjects. We will be publishing their answers over the next few weeks.
1. What is your plan for economic revival in the North East?
Levelling up has been a top priority and has seen new jobs, new training opportunities and new infrastructure investment in Darlington, giving people the skills for jobs based here and enabling them to get to and from those jobs are the key to unlocking the economic opportunities for our area.
2. How will you help to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets?
We are one of the fastest decarbonising major economies in the world, with almost half of our energy coming from renewable sources. New nuclear, offshore wind, solar and carbon capture and storage are just some of the projects helping to deliver that and Teesside is at the forefront of much of that, delivering new job opportunities right here on our doorstep.
3. How will you work to end child poverty in the North East?
Poverty is tackled by enhancing job and training opportunities and lowering taxes and continually raising the living wage. Uprating our benefits, enhancing housing benefit and household support, and the energy and cost of living supports have all been ways which we have supported people in recent years.
4. What is your view of the war on Gaza and how would you resolve it?
We need to see all hostages seized in the brutal attack by Hamas terrorists released. We need to see Hamas unable to perpetrate attacks on Israel, and ultimately, we need a two-state solution allowing Israel and Palestinian people to live peacefully as neighbours.
5. How can the curriculum be widened to make it more useful and inclusive for our pupils?
There is massive pressure from many groups to add more to our curriculum which is already very heavy. I would however like to see awareness of knife crime, mental health, online safety and money management on the curriculum. We need to do more to ensure that no child leaves school at 16 without the basic maths and English qualifications essential to survive in the world of work. North East Bylines editor@northeastbylines.co.uk
6. How do you propose to protect our waterways from contamination with sewerage?
We now monitor storm overflows 100% of the time, up from 7% in 2020. The Environment Act of 2021 does much to tackle this issue.
7. What do you see are the main benefits of Brexit?
Brexit has enabled us to enter into free trade deals with New Zealand and Australia. Joining CTTPP, we’ve grown from being the world’s 9 th largest manufacturer to the 8 th , and we’ve seen our position in exports grow too. We’ve also been able to remove VAT from sanitary products and stop the live export of cattle.
8. What will you do to fight for fair pay for all NHS staff?
NHS pay is reviewed by independent pay review bodies.
9. Which historical figure would you go to for advice?
Getting a number of historical greats around the table to discuss current challenges would be fascinating, Churchill, Attlee, Thatcher, Macmillan.
10. How would you ensure that you represent all constituents, including the ones who didn’t vote for you?
I have served everyone in Darlington regardless of how they voted. I’ve built bridges across counties and would continue to do so if I am re-elected
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