Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has been reselected to stand at the next election.

Last night, March 28, Mr Houchen was unanimously reselected by the Tees Valley Conservatives as theirs candidate to contest the Tees Valley Mayoral Election in May 2024.

Mr Houchen said: “I am delighted that it has been confirmed that I will be contesting the next Mayoral election as the Conservative candidate.

“I have said on numerous occasions, politics is a deeply personal to me. The people of Teesside, Darlington, and Hartlepool are also friends, family and colleagues and I feel a deep responsibility to deliver on every promise I have made.

“We are on the cusp of something very, very special here in Teesside and I intend to see it through to the very end.

“Since the day I was elected in 2017 on the promise to buy back our airport I have worked night and day to get things done and make things happen. I promised to buy the airport – I delivered. I promised to revive our steelworks – I delivered. And I promised to put the Tees Valley on the map – I delivered.

"There’s still a huge amount of work that we need to do across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool, but I have a record of delivery and I have a promise to do much more.”

Ben Houchen has was first elected in 2017 as the first ever Tees Valley Mayor. He was then re-elected in 2021, winning 73 per cent of the vote.

The MP for Darlington, Peter Gibson, said: I am absolutely thrilled that Ben is going for the ha-trick. Teesside, Hartlepool, and most importantly to me, Darlington have a renewed sense of pride purpose and prosperity with him as our Tees Valley Mayor.

"I’m Backing Ben, and I’m sure the whole of our region will again."

The Right Honourable Simon Clarke, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, added: “Ben has been a transformational Mayor for our area, and the difference he has made is clear for all to see.

"From our airport to our freeport, things are happening locally which will benefit us all for decades to come.

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“We have a really strong team of Conservative councillors, MPs, our PCC and our Mayor all committed to one goal - making Teesside more successful and an even better place to live. Let’s ensure Ben is re-elected next year to keep on driving change, regeneration and jobs.”

Jonathan Dulston, leader of Darlington Council, said: “I am absolutely delighted to see Ben re-selected as the conservative mayoral candidate ahead of next year's Tees Valley combined authority elections.

"His record of delivery for our local area has been truly transformational.”