North Tyneside Labour MP Mary Glindon to stand in Newcastle East and Wallsend seat at next general election

Mary Glindon has confirmed that she has been chosen as the party’s candidate for a revised Newcastle East and Wallsend seat.

Her existing North Tyneside constituency will cease to exist under new boundary changes that will come into force at the next election, currently expected to be called in the second half of 2024.

The redrawn east end seat will take in some of Mrs Glindon’s current wards, as well as some from the current Newcastle East constituency – which is held by the long-serving Nick Brown.

Mr Brown announced in December that he was quitting the Labour Party and would not be standing for election this year, bringing an end to a four-decade career in Parliament.

His decision followed a suspension of the Labour whip from September 2022 during an investigation into a complaint made against the 73-year-old, a process which he furiously branded “grotesquely unfit for purpose” and a “complete farce.”

Mrs Glindon, who has been an MP for 14 years, said on Friday: “Naturally, I am sad that North Tyneside, which I have represented since 2010, is no more but, if the voters agree, I will carry on as an MP for the new seat. I look forward to representing Newcastle East and Wallsend and working with party members, councillors, and local organisations if the voters elect me.

“I pay tribute to my friend and colleague, Nick Brown, for all his work as Labour MP for Newcastle East, the previous Newcastle East and Wallsend constituency, and in government for many years.

“Being an MP is like any job. It takes time to get into your stride. I think I have done that and am keen to use that long experience to carry on and, I hope, continue to provide a good civic service.

“I would want to continue to support those working to treat and one day cure cancer, to help encourage people to give up smoking through safe vaping if necessary. I want to help people solve the problems they raise with me and to be a voice for local people in our Parliament.

“I will make the political case for my continuing as a Labour MP when the election is called. And, as I keep saying, the sooner the better.

“The government should stop its prevarication and play-acting and give the voters the choice about the future of our country.”