The general election is just weeks away - so we sat down with all the candidates standing in Darlington to see why they want to be the town's MP. Here's what the Conservative candidate Peter Gibson said.

In our first of five interviews covering all the candidates standing to be Darlington's next MP, we asked Peter Gibson about his manifesto and why he wants to be re-elected on July 4.

Peter, what have the last 5 years been like for you as Darlington's MP?

“What can I say, I think nothing quite prepares you for this job”, he said.

“It’s not just a job it’s certainly not a 9 to 5. It is a complete change of life not just for you but for your family and friends. It’s full on, 24/7.

“I’ve had the time of my life, but there have been some really dark days. Some really tough days.”

“No two days are the same you feel constantly pulled into different directions forced to get to Westminster and be there but also to be here and be embedded in the community.

“It’s exhilarating. It’s exhausting and I love it.”

“I think I’ve worked incredibly hard and I have certainly delivered a lot for the town. I mean, who could’ve imagined that the government would decide to put their very first treasury outreach here in Darlington?”

“If I lost the election tomorrow and never had another day in politics and people ask me what my biggest achievement was I would have to say the treasury.

“Because that has a lasting impact on the town and the community.”

Tell us a bit about your manifesto for re-election.

“There is just so much happening here. It feels like a town transformed,” Peter said, going through his manifesto leaflet with nine focus points and pledges.

They are as follows:

  • Restore free parking in Darlington town centre
  • Secure a new stadium for Darlington FC
  • Demolish Northgate Tower
  • Deliver the Northern Bypass
  • Spend £20m on a long-term plan for towns
  • Deliver a multi-storey car park at the hospital
  • Install brown tourist signs on the A1
  • Restore the South Park fountain
  • Continue to press the Labour council

Peter continued to give more detail about the pledges - including how much they could cost.

For Northgate Tower, Mr Gibson said: “We know what needs to be done. We’ve got the money and now we just need to apply for it.”

He added that the town had a £23.3m grant a few years ago - part of which was allocated to demolish the tower. He claimed that the only reason it hasn't been demolished is because a council application has not been put in to do so.

When pressed as to why this was not done under a Conservative council leadership, Mr Gibson explained this was down to 'negotiations' at the time. 

As for the new bypass, Mr Gibson understands that the £250m that has been allocated to carry out the project is enough to deliver it in full - but this figure could change depending on the route the road takes.

Brown tourist signs directing people to Darlington are set to cost £50,000 per sign - but Mr Gibson was enthusiastic about the tourism and visitors they could bring.

He said: “We need visitors to our town. We need to drive people here.”

Peter, do you think Rishi Sunak is the right person to continue to lead the country?

He said: “I supported Rishi in the leadership campaign. Rishi is a personal friend of mine. I have known him since he first came to Northallerton. He is a good man, a decent man, and he works very hard.

“Rishi has served our country very well in the time that he has been our Prime Minister. He has my support.”

Do you think the Prime Minister was right to leave D-Day commemorative events early?

Mr Gibson replied: “The Prime Minister should not have done that. He should have stayed until the end of the events.

“I do believe he made a mistake and should have stayed until the end of the commemorative events. That is my firm and clear view.

“He has made a mistake and has apologised profusely in respect of that. General election campaigning is a crazy time, but there is no excuse for that.”

Our readers have noticed a fast turnaround of businesses at Darlington Market - does this concern you at all?

He said: “For us to have a sustainable and growing market we need more people to come into town,” Peter said, drawing to the fact he believes free parking and the brown tourist signs could bring more people in to town.

He agreed there has been ‘too much of a turnaround’ in businesses and thinks the market needs a wider variety of stalls.

You have been very supportive of the Rwanda scheme - but do you think the millions spent on it could be better spent in Darlington?

Peter said: “If you take money away from the Rwanda scheme and give it to Darlington, we still need to solve the issue of what we do with somebody who enters this country illegally who is not being granted asylum.

“You might disagree with her Rwanda scheme and you might say that we need to use another country but if we say that you enter the country illegally and you are not granted asylum where do you go?

“The scheme is part of a package of measures of tackling immigration, somebody comes here illegally and breaks the law by doing so they need to go somewhere.

He added: “Yes, public finances on the face of it can be very simple and you can say: yes if we cancel the Rwanda scheme and give all the money to Darlington that would be wonderful. But, then how does the country still deal with and tackle the issue of illegal migration for people crossing the small boats.”

It's been a tumultuous few years in politics. The Conservatives have had three Prime Ministers. Why should the people of Darlington trust you and your party?

“The Conservative party over the very difficult years that we have had has provided record unprecedented support to people during Covid to businesses and individuals during the cost of living crisis with energy support.

“Those things have never been done before by any political party so I think our track record of support for people in our community speaks for itself.

“In terms of falling for me, I don’t disagree. That politics has been very tumultuous in Westminster and whoever was in power would’ve had to face those challenges as a result of Covid energy price hikes and the war in Ukraine.

“That said, I have a track record of working hard for the people in this town regardless of what’s going on in Westminster. I have a track record of delivering substantial investments to our town and working hard on the ground with people providing a previously unprovided service to the residents in this community.

“That’s why I’m standing in this election that’s why I want to continue to provide for the people of Darlington to the best of my ability.”