All the candidates you can vote for in the Hartlepool by-election

Mrs Mortimer is a farmer in North Yorkshire, she studied law at Teesside University as a mature student and has three children. She is currently a district councillor for Hambleton District Council, in North Yorkshire, she lives near Thirsk. If elected she will become the first Conservative MP for Hartlepool since the seat was created in 1974.

While, campaigning Mrs Mortimer said she wants ‘Hartlepool to build back better’ and if elected she wants to make sure ‘Hartlepool is at the centre of the post-pandemic recovery by creating more jobs and attracting extra-investment to the town’.

Her campaign focused ‘on delivering on the people’s priorities for the town’.

Paul Williams, Labour

Paul Williams, Labour

Dr Williams served as the MP for Stockton South from 2017 until 2019. Dr Williams had been Labour's candidate for Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, in the election of the same day, but withdrew in order to contest Hartlepool. During the campaign, he apologised for posting an inappropriate tweet, using the term ‘Tory MILFs’ in 2011.

Dr Paul Williams, a GP, has been campaigning to bring more health services back to Hartlepool.

He was one of four GPs involved in a 2013 report recommended removing services, including critical care, from Hartlepool Hospital.

These recommendations were later fully adopted.

David Bettney Social Democratic Party

David Bettney, Social Democratic Party

Mr Bettney is a former soldier who served in the Army for 22 years, which included operational tours in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. After joining the Army as a Trooper at the age of 17, David rose through the ranks to eventually become a Regimental Sergeant Major in The Light Dragoons, Hartlepool’s local cavalry regiment. Since leaving the Army over a decade ago David has become a serial entrepreneur in the oil and gas industry, having built several construction, logistics and storage companies from the ground-up in the Middle East.

He said he will be giving voters the unique chance to vote for a party that is ‘patriotic, willing to invest in public services and determined to bring back jobs and industry’.

The Incredible Flying Brick, The Monster Raving Loony Party

Nick the Incredible Flying Brick, The Monster Raving Loony Party

The Monster Raving Loony Party policies include, the Houses of Parliament will be relocated next to Hartlepool Marina.

To halt the spread of new Covid variants all international travel will be by paddle steamer.

They will enrol the Hartlepool ‘Victoria Arms’ darts team to speed up the pace of the vaccination program.

Hartlepool Golf Club will be re-developed into an intergalactic space port.

Visiting EU officials in Brexit trade talks with the UK will be required to wear a Darlington football strip.

They will return the British currency to pounds, shillings, pence, farthings and groats. Rural villages such as Hart can trade in shiny beads.

Hilton Dawson, North East Party

Hilton Dawson, North East Party (NEP)

The North East Party wants to empower and transform the North East of England through devolution, fair taxation and world class opportunities and services for all the people of the region.

Formed in May 2014, NEP currently has elected responsibility for Peterlee Town Council, three Durham County Councillors and three members of Billingham Town Council.

NEP said they will present a bold challenge to all the London-based Parties at by- election.

Mr Dawson said: “Our campaign provides a great opportunity for Hartlepool people to demand radical change to improve the lives of people in their town and across their region.’

Rachel Featherstone, Green

Rachel Featherstone, Green Party

Ms Featherstone who has lived in the North East her entire life, will stand for the seat on the promise to fight for a Green recovery for the people of Hartlepool.

Ms Featherstone who works on Teesside as a university lecturer, and is a mother of three children, said she is adamant that Hartlepool deserves better representation.

She said: “I’m very proud to have been selected as the Green Party candidate for Hartlepool. Every green vote will be a message that things can’t go on the way they have been.

“It is frankly outrageous how Labour and the Conservatives have approached this by-election as a game, to see who can get one over the other.”

Adam Gaines, Independent

Adam Gaines, Independent

Mr Gaines has campaigned for a council and income tax rebate for the ‘hard-working people of Hartlepool’.

He believes this is necessary to help ease the results of ‘years of austerity which has led to key public services being decimated and to stimulate the local economy through spending’.

He said: “The people of Hartlepool have suffered for years with cuts to public services. Similar sized towns still have hospital services, police staffing, magistrate’s courts, and their jail cells available to police on a night. Hartlepool services have been cut to the bone across the board.

“Every election the Tories and Labour come out and blame each other over the cuts to public services such as hospital services but the elephant in the room is that they are both responsible.”

Andy Hagon, Liberal Democrats

Andy Hagon, Liberal Democrats

Mr Hagon was the party's candidate for the Hartlepool constituency in the 2017 and 2019 General Elections.

Mr Hogan, who grew up on Owton Manor estate, said: “I was born and raised in Hartlepool. My family and best mates live here. I’ve worked, volunteered in and been unemployed here in Hartlepool.

"I truly understand the frustration of all Hartlepudlians who want more change and opportunities in their local community.

"I have decided to stand for a third time so that people have another choice beyond Labour and the Conservatives.

"There should never be one in three Hartlepool children living in poverty in one of the richest countries in the world, we need a more caring country.”

Steve Jack

Steve Jack, Freedom Alliance

Mr Jack said: “I’m not really a politician at all. And I’ve never aspired to political office. But I am interested in truth and social justice, and I knew there was something very wrong about our country’s over-reaction to this virus, right from the very beginning.”

“Despite having a perfectly good Pandemic Preparedness Plan, the Government caved into global and media pressure, and went ahead with ‘locking down’ the entire population (something that had never been done before) without making any proper Impact Assessment as to what the wider consequences might be. As I expected, the results were disastrous.”

"I’m determined to have an honest conversation, and to stand up against this tyranny."

Christopher Killick, Independent

Chris Killick, Independent

Mr Killick, admitted he was convicted in London for voyeurism last year.

He vowed to continue with his bid to be elected MP in Hartlepool, adding it has always been an ambition of his.

Former shop assistant Mr Killick, 41, said: “I’m here, I’ve been sentenced in court, I’m not barred.

“I do want to emphasise that I am actually here to campaign politically. My goal is purely to help this country.

“It was inevitable it would come out so I’m just playing it as it comes really, I don’t know how it’s going to pan out.

“The question is now, whether I’ll be accepted.”

Samantha Lee, Independent

Samantha Lee, Independent

Ms Lee, is a businesswoman who set up her own public relations firm 15 years ago, following a decade-long career in journalism.

She has worked with several Hartlepool businesses - including Seymour Engineering, Hartlepool College of FE, J&B Recycling, Hart Biologicals and Gus Robinson Developments whilst being a member of the region's business groups.

Ms Lee said a key factor behind her decision to enter the race was down to the fact that she believes an independent voice in the corridors of power would go some way to helping to improve the prospects for the next generation.

Gemma Evans, Women's Equality Party

Gemma Evans, Women's Equality Party

Ms Evans is standing at the by-election to 'demand action on ending violence against women and girls from all parties standing'.

Ms Evans' election campaign is focused on making ending violence against women and girls the top priority in Hartlepool.

She said: "The Women's Equality Party is the only political party which puts gender equality at the core of every single policy, and the only political party that campaigns to end gender based violence day in and day out."

Ms Evans' main policy is to 'demand action' from other parties to tackle violence against women and girls.

Claire Martin, Heritage

Claire Martin, Heritage

Ms Martin is a life long resident of Hartlepool.

She said: "The issues that concern our town and it's people are of paramount importance to me. Over the years we have lost many of our towns vital services and I intend to get them back.

"If I get elected as town MP, I will push to get back our A & E department. This will take pressure off existing services and improve quality of care.

"I will work with Cleveland Police to get officers on foot, patrolling the streets. The presence of officers reduces crime and increases the feeling of community safety."

John Prescott, Reform UK

John Prescott, Reform UK

Mr Prescott was born in Doncaster and brought up in Stockton-on-Tees. His father worked at Seal Sands, and his grandfather was a miner.

He is married with four children, who are four to 19-years-old, and was the Brexit Party candidate for Stockton South in the 2019 General Election. He has an HND in Business Information Technology from Teesside University, and is a self-employed freelance computer consultant with an online e-commerce business. He lives in Philadelphia near Houghton le Spring.

He has no relation to the former deputy prime minister.

The party renamed itself after the UK left the European Union last year.

Ralph Ward-Jackson, Independent

W. Ralph Ward-Jackson, Independent

Mr Ward-Jackson said: "I am not a professional politician, in fact I am anti-politician. I am fed up with the two main political parties, and I know many Hartlepudlians are too.

"Labour and the Tories have both ignored and mistreated the town for too long. A vote for me will send a powerful message to the Westminster elite that enough is enough and that they need to start helping Hartlepool and its people. "The fact that I am Independent and speak my mind - and that my name is part of Hartlepool’s history and identity- will scare them into action to help the town!"

Thelma Walker, Independent

Thelma Walker, Independent

Ms Walker was a teacher and headteacher for 34 years, and an MP after that.

She said: "I care about people, and I know how to get things done.I want free school meals for every child, I want a living wage people can actually live on, I want to take back control of our bus routes and schedules from Stagecoach, and I want a Green Industrial Rebirth to create good jobs in Hartlepool.

"I’m endorsed by the Northern Independence Party."

The Northern Independent Party have a vision for a 'very different future for the North, a vision with the real values of the North'.