Hartlepool By-election Today

7.27.34am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 30th Sep 2004

Today, 30 September, the electors of Hartlepool go to the polls to elect a new MP to replace Peter Mandelson, who has been given the lucrative job of European Commissioner. LibDem Candidate Jody Dunn, addressing the Party Conference on 22 September said, "The people of Hartlepool are right to be proud of their town. They are independently minded, and they are fair. And now they have a chance to change the face of British politics. To choose something better than the one-party Labour politics that has bred cynicism, discontent, apathy and despair. This is their chance to breathe new life into our system of Parliamentary democracy."

With a general election around the corner, I am saying to Hartlepool: "Give me a chance. Let me be an MP you can be proud of."I have seven months to show I can make a difference - so test me out and if I fail to deliver then the people of Hartlepool can let me know in May. I say to the town, this is your chance to send a clear message to Tony Blair. That you don't trust him anymore. That you're disappointed and let down at how little the Labour government has cared about Hartlepool. And Tony - we're not going to let you shut our hospital."

I feel enormously privileged. I stand in this election as a representative of the only party which is offering a real opportunity for change. I am determined to give it 110% on September 30th. Change from the past, and hope for the future."