AN MP has defended her parliamentary record after it came under fire from local opposition politicians.

Serious questions have been raised about Hartlepool’s Conservative MP after it was revealed that since her election four months ago - which include over 50 sitting days of Parliament - she had failed to make a single spoken contribution, failed to submit a single written question or even sign an early day motion.

Further outrage has been expressed after it was discovered that she is still serving as a councillor on Hambleton District Council, drawing an allowance and attending meetings, including as recently as September 2.

Anthony Frain, Chair of Hartlepool Constituency Labour Party, said: “It’s deeply worrying that in such a critical period, with local businesses struggling, thousands of Hartlepool households facing welfare cuts, taxes rising for working families, and the furlough scheme soon coming to an end, our MP has yet to speak in parliament on behalf of our town. The fact that Mrs Mortimer has however found the time to speak on behalf of her own community in North Yorkshire, as a continuing member of Hambleton district council, simply adds insult to injury.”

Councillor Brenda Harrison, Leader of the Labour Group said: “Hartlepool needs and deserves a full time MP. We have so many challenges around jobs, crime, poverty, cuts to services; I just don’t see how Mrs Mortimer can possibly do her job properly if she’s splitting her time with her duties as a councillor in the place where she actually lives. She seems to be speaking for her own community, not ours.”

To qualify to remain as a councillor requires Mrs Mortimer to live in the local authority area, rather than Hartlepool.

Labour are now calling for her to resign her position as a councillor immediately in the hope that she will choose to live in Hartlepool full-time.

In response Conservative MP for Hartlepool, Jill Mortimer said: “I am delighted Labour members seem to suddenly be so interested in the work of Hartlepool’s MP given how their party took the town for granted for so many decades.

“When I was elected, I promised to work tirelessly on behalf of the people of this town and I have done exactly that.

"I have met with the Prime Minister and other senior ministers to put the case for this town forward as we aim to build back better from the pandemic. I have worked with Mayor for Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, Steve Turner, Hartlepool councillors and a raft of organisations on a range of issues including services at the town’s hospital, reopening the custody suite and helping us recover from Covid.

“Not only that, I have been tackling a massive backlog of casework left by my Labour predecessor when he walked away from the job of being Hartlepool MP.

“Throughout Parliament’s recess I have been working diligently right across Hartlepool and I look forward to making my maiden speech in the House of Commons as soon as possible – so far I have been denied by the summer break and Covid restrictions."

“But my focus will always be on the people of Hartlepool – not Westminster.”