DOCUMENTARY-maker and former EastEnders actor Ross Kemp was in Thornaby this morning as part of Labour candidate Dr Paul Williams's campaign to keep his seat.
At around 8am on Friday, about thirty members of the public popped into Melt Desserts in The Pavilion Shopping Centre for a chance to speak to Dr Williams and meet Mr Kemp.
Dr Williams, who up until the General Election had been MP for Stockton South since 2017, chose the Thornaby business as the first stop off point of his visit as he claimed he wanted to "show his support" for local businesses.
Speaking of Dr Williams at the event, Mr Kemp said: "What you've got here is someone that I think is unselfish and caring.
"He's proved that by some of the things that he's done - saving the post office, keeping the ticket office open, listening to people and doing something about autism - I think you've helped 4,000 people since you've been here."
Dr Williams was quick to point out that it was with the help of his team.
- Related: Matt Vickers selected as Stockton South Conservative candidate
Mr Kemp added: "That's in two years, imagine what could happen if you had five years."
Mr Kemp urged residents to come down and vote for Dr Williams, no matter whether or not it was "raining or sleeting."
However, one Thornaby man attending the visit at Melt Desserts said he was "still on the fence" on who to vote for, while waiting in a queue to get an autograph from Mr Kemp.
Dave Powley said: “I’m a bit unsure on which way to vote. The reason I’m on the fence is because I can’t work Corbyn out, I just can’t imagine how his brain works. This Brexit lark, we should have been out three years ago.
“Everything that was brought back to the Houses of Parliament was just rejected, I thought ‘ha way’ give your head a shake and come round to give what they people want.”
At around 8.30am, Dr Williams and Mr Kemp travelled around two miles to Whitstone Primary School in Ingleby Barwick in a bid to secure votes from parents and staff.
Dr Williams told The Northern Echo: "I’m very grateful to Ross for coming to this area, it’s really important to put this area on the map.
"I’ve done my very best to be a good MP caring about the issues that matter to people, and in this area there's crime and anti-social behaviour, people aren’t able to get a GP appointment, people struggling with Universal Credit, and I want people to know I’m listening to them.
“It’s really good of Ross to come and help me to share that message."
Speaking about those who may choose to vote against The Labour Party because of the views its current leader, Jeremy Corbyn holds, Dr Williams said: "My answer to that is it’s my name on the ballot paper.”
'Kemp: I don’t necessarily agree with everything Jeremy Corbyn says'
Mr Kemp said politics had been "pushed to the margins" over the past five years.
He said: "I’ve met Jeremy and I’ve talked to Jeremy and as a person I find him engaging, I don’t necessarily agree with all the things he says but The Labour Party is a broad church. The most important thing is stopping a Tory majority."
In between posing for photos with parents, children and school staff, some of whom had turned out just to see Mr Kemp, the former EastEnders actor said: "It’s just to help Paul you know, we’ve got six days before the most important General Election in generations, decades and decades.
"I urge everyone in this constituency to come out and vote for Paul if you want to see an end to waiting times in hospitals, if you want to make sure you have buses, ticket offices, and railways, and also an end to things like bedroom tax, UC, that doesn’t work."
- Standing for the Stockton South ward is Matt Vickers of The Conservative Party, Brendan Michael of the Liberal Democrats and John Prescot of The Brexit Party.
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