Darlington Youth MP criticises Labour council as ‘out of touch’

Jack James, a pupil at Longfield Academy, claimed “Labour are out of touch with the working people of our country” after criticising the council’s decision not to introduce free parking over the festive period in 2024. 

The teenager questioned why councillor Chris McEwan, who stood as Labour’s candidate for Tees Valley Mayor in 2024, has not fulfilled the election pledge he made for the region in Darlington. 

He said: “Since July 5, 2024, there has been little hope for small businesses up and down this country, not just in Darlington. Not helped by the Labour, Liberal and Green councillors who blocked the motion to provide the vital support needed to our local business over the Christmas period despite being labelled as a lifeline for our local businesses.  

“But what makes this even more unbelievable is that you promised if elected as Mayor of the Tees Valley that you would: ‘bring back free parking to breathe life into our struggling town centres.’

“Isn’t it strange that when elections come around Labour promises the world, yet delivers so little. Much like our Labour MP who has only just opened a constituency office. The people of Darlington deserve much, much better.

“Children in this town need to feel proud of the place they live. They need role models to look up to and the comfort that they can open a small business in this town and be supported by the local authority, something which is clearly lacking under this Labour administration.”

The council decision not to introduce free parking over the festive period was also criticised by Conservative councillors, however local authority leaders said funding the scheme was not sustainable. 

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The Youth MP added: “Could you please also provide further justification as to why this administration decided to fail our business owners despite knowing that our local area was failing and continues to. 

“And perhaps you could provide me with some real data and information which shows that by implementing this decision you would not be improving our town centre because voting it down clearly shows you feel this way.”

Councillor McEwan refuted the supposed lack of support for the town centre and said figures showing footfall has increased are a positive step forward. 

“The free parking offer was funded by the Tees Valley Combined Authority for a period, but they decided not to continue supporting it. As part of my Mayoral campaign, free parking was one of the areas I would have looked at if I had been elected and had access to the funding that TVCA attracts. However, that is not the case and I have to look at what I can do as part of this council.

“This council has difficult decisions to make where funding is spent. The fact is that provision was not made in the MTFP by the previous administration to fund free parking nor any Christmas parking initiatives going forward.”