Hartlepool MP resigns, triggering by-election
Mike Hill, who's represented Hartlepool since 2017, has quit as MP with immediate effect
Last updated 16th Mar 2021
A Teesside Labour MP has quit, triggering a by-election.
It's not known why Mike Hill, who represented Hartlepool, has resigned.
The electoral contest will mark the first test of Sir Keir Starmer's leadership since taking over from Jeremy Corbyn last year.
A spokesperson for Hartlepool Constituency Labour Party said, “We have been informed that Mike Hill has resigned as MP for Hartlepool with immediate effect. Our priority now is to ensure a candidate is in place quickly and we start work immediately on sharing Labour’s positive vision for Hartlepool."
Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough said: “Hearing the news that Mike Hill has resigned Labour will now start the process to make sure we have a candidate in place to make the progressive and positive case for Hartlepool."
"More than ever, given the devastation of 10 years of austerity, the job losses and damage caused to local services by Tory neglect, a strong Labour voice is needed for Hartlepool and across the Tees Valley.”