Conservative Party chairman Holden says he has a week to find seat

Speaking to The Northern Echo while canvassing with Darlington MP Peter Gibson, Richard Holden confirmed that he will not be standing in the region and he might not even be standing in the North of England at all.

He was elected MP for North West Durham at the 2019 general election, but that seat is being removed as part of a major shake-up of parliamentary constituency boundaries. 

Mr Holden, who became Conservative Party chairman in November 2023, has been unable to find an alternative seat in the North East.

The Conservative Party is reportedly looking for candidates to stand in 150 seats across the country.

Mr Holden said: "I have got a week to find a seat. 

"So we will hopefully get one. I would have liked to stay in the North East but it is just not going to happen.

"I would even like to stay in the North but I don't know if that is going to happen either.

"We are just going to have to see."

He described how emotional the last week has been realising that his constituency office would be disappearing and he mourned not being able to "fight" for his current seat after the electoral boundary changes.

The chairman said: "I phoned up the constituency office today. It was emotional.

"I worked with one of my staff since the first few weeks after I started.

"For them as well it is their entire constituency that is being shifted. 

"We didn't even get the chance to fight for it.  

"It has been very moving speaking to them."

Looking at the wider electoral picture, with the national polls looking bleak for his party, Mr Holden backed Darlington MP Peter Gibson to hold his seat in the upcoming contest.

He also believes that other Conservative MPs in the region have a fighting chance but he did highlight Paul Howell as one candidate facing an uphill struggle.

He added: "We have a local MP here whose name comes up on the doorstep who people like. 

"This is going to be the case in a lot of different parts of the country. 

"I just get this feeling in communities like this that voters understand the difference these MPs have made.

"In Darlington, if you look at the national polls we should write Darlington off.

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"I am absolutely convinced that Peter will win this seat. 

"I'm also convinced that Matt Vickers and Simon Clarke and Jacob Young can win. 

"Paul Howell is in a tough fight in Sedgefield because his constituency has changed but he is working hard."