THE Social Democratic Party (SDP) has today announced their candidate to stand for the Hartlepool by-election.

David Bettney will be the party’s candidate for the Hartlepool by-election.

Mr Bettney is a former soldier who served in the Army for 22 years, which included operational tours in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

After joining the Army as a Trooper at the age of 17, Mr Bettney rose through the ranks to eventually become a Regimental Sergeant Major in The Light Dragoons, Hartlepool’s local cavalry regiment.

Since leaving the Army over a decade ago Mr Bettney has become an entrepreneur in the oil and gas industry, having built several construction, logistics and storage companies in the Middle East.

The SDP said Mr Bettney will be offering Hartlepool’s voters the unique chance to vote for a party that is patriotic, willing to invest in public services and determined to bring back jobs and industry.

Mr Bettney said: “Hartlepool is a fantastic town with a wonderful community, and I’m proud that I’ve been chosen by the SDP to stand as its MP. Sadly, despite the potential of this town and its people, Hartlepool has been let down by politicians for decades.

"For too long, failed Labour and Conservative governments have destroyed Hartlepool’s jobs, gutted out public services, and undermined the ability of the police to maintain law and order.

“Labour have held Hartlepool for 57 years and take the town for granted. They’ve failed to do anything about the loss of jobs and industry in Hartlepool, and instead have spent time pandering to radicals who hate Britain’s institutions and history.

"As a final insult, Labour has sneered at Hartlepool through parachuting in a failed MP who wants re-join the EU despite Hartlepool voting 70 per cent to leave – he literally wanted to undo the will of the people.

“And despite their rhetoric, Conservative governments were the ones to strip Hartlepool of vital public services like Hartlepool Hospital’s A&E. The Tories have also undermined law and order by letting police numbers fall to rock-bottom levels, resulting in a town where many feel scared to walk the streets amid rampant antisocial behaviour.

“If elected as an SDP MP, I’ll serve only the people of this town – not the party machines. I’ll work night and day to make sure the government delivers the investment and services that this town needs to prosper.”

William Clouston, Leader of the SDP, says: “For too long, both main parties have consistently ignored the needs of communities like Hartlepool. Neither party brings with it a real ambition to create jobs, fund public services, and ensure that the streets are kept safe. The two-party system has failed Hartlepool, just as it is failing the rest of the country.

“This is not a time for politics as usual. We’re determined to end the dominance by the two broken main parties, and we believe Hartlepool to be the place to do it. We are going to make Hartlepool go down in history as the place where British democracy was restored.”