I can't walk away from the people who trust me

So, this week when I said that I would not stand as MP for Hartlepool, I'm sure many of them said, yes, but what does he really mean?

Well, I'm sorry to disappoint them, but I meant exactly what I said. I've been asked to use this column to explain a little about my reasons. So here goes.

I have tremendous affection for Hartlepool, a great place with some great people. What I learned there about policing and people will stay with me all my life.

When they choose their new MP, I'm sure they'll chose wisely. They won't be swayed by suntans or smiles or television studio charm. They're too canny to fall for that. That's why I like them.

But I have similar affection and respect for the people of Middlesbrough. Just over two years ago, they entrusted me with a huge responsibility: changing their council, their town and their quality of life for the better.

I cannot walk away from the job they asked me to do. I will not betray the people I meet every day, in the street, at community centres and schools, people who greet me with a friendly word and encouragement. People who trust me.

Being Mayor of Middlesbrough is hard work, harder perhaps than I expected. It has also been deeply rewarding and now, in Middlehaven, in falling crime rates, in cleaner streets, we are starting to deliver results. But even if the going had been tougher, the results not coming through, I would have gone on. That's what I've said I will do and what people trust me to do. That's my contract with the people of Middlesbrough.

The men and women who seek election in Hartlepool will care about one thing. Winning. Nothing wrong in that. I have a bit of a competitive streak myself. But other things in public life matter more.

Politicians have lost people's trust. That is why people don't use their vote and increasingly respond to the work of government at national or local level with a shrug of the shoulders.

That's worrying, because it is a short step from not caring who runs your country, town or neighbourhood to not caring about other issues: whether your environment is clean and safe; whether people bin their litter rather than throw it on the pavement.

We need more people to care about what's happening in the world and on their own doorstep. The problems we face, from global warming to anti-social behaviour, can't be solved by a shrug of the shoulders. One of the main reasons people don't care is that they are sick of seeing politicians say one thing and do another and cut and run rather than stay the course.

Some time in the future, I may join a political party - most readers will know which one. I may seek election as an MP. But this is not the time. And if what I've done this week helps to turn back the tide of cynicism which washes over so much of our public life, I'll have no regrets.

That's worrying, because it is a short step from not caring who runs your country, town or neighbourhood to not caring about other issues: whether your environment is clean and safe; whether people bin their litter rather than throw it on the pavement; whether young people spend their leisure time drinking in the shopping precinct rather than at youth centre or gym.

We need more people to care about what's happening in the world and on their own doorstep. The problems we face, from global warming to anti-social behaviour, can't be solved by a shrug of the shoulders. They're too important to be left to the politicians who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

One of the main reasons people don't care is that they are sick of seeing politicians say one thing and do another, shed crocodile tears and cut and run rather than stay the course.

Some time in the future, I may join a political party - most readers will know which one. I may seek election as an MP. But this is not the time. And if what I've done this week helps to turn back the tide of cynicism which washes over so much of our public life, I'll have no regrets.

Published: 30/07/2004