CITY of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy has confirmed that she will contest the next general election after gaining the unanimous support of the city’s Labour Party.

It was announced on Saturday (May 28) that Ms Foy, who was first elected to Parliament in 2019, had been reselected by members and affiliated organisations to stand as Labour’s candidate at the next General Election.

As part of the regular selection process between elections, members and organisations linked to the local party are asked whether they would prefer their current MP to stand as the candidate, or whether they would prefer a ballot on allowing other candidates to stand.

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Following a secret ballot of members of the local party, and members of unions and other organisations linked to the City of Durham Labour, Ms Foy has been backed unanimously to fight the next election in Durham.

Following her re-selection, Ms Foy said: “The past few years have been very challenging for everyone in Durham and across the country, but it has been an absolute honour to represent such a special constituency in Parliament.

The Northern Echo: The MP has expressed her delight of her reselection. Picture: MARY KELLY FOY.The MP has expressed her delight of her reselection. Picture: MARY KELLY FOY.

“I am so grateful and humbled to be unanimously reselected to be Labour’s candidate for the next General Election. In the meantime, I will continue holding the Government to account, and making sure that the people of the City of Durham have their voices heard.”

City of Durham Labour Party Chair, Sheila Williams, added: “It is a testament to the work that Mary has done since 2019 that members and affiliated organisations backed her unanimously to be our candidate at the next General Election.

“Having been through the pandemic, Storm Arwen and now the Cost-of-Living crisis, she has always done her best to help residents in Durham.

“I’m delighted that she will be our candidate at the next General Election.”

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