Labour pick local man Scott as Parliamentary Candidate for Berwick Upon Tweed

Scott Dickinson has been chosen by the Labour Party to Contest the Parliamentary seat of Berwick Upon Tweed.

Local man Scott, known for his role at Business Chair of Northumberland County Council and proud representative of Druridge Bay, he was the candidate in 2015 General Election too.

Scott has lived in the Constituency since being 4yrs old when his father was posted to RAF Boulmer in Northumberland.

Scott's family run a small business in the Northumberland Tourism industry and he knows about the challenges they face.

Scott has always been involved in politics both locally and nationally. He first became interested when standing for Chair of the School Council and being successful in his first election. He then went on to continue his election winning successes at Parish and County Council Elections.

Scott has worked as an elected representative for the last 4yrs representing Northumberland Locally and Nationally. He is known for his hard work in Health and Social Care Services in Northumberland.

Scott is an all round caring, passionate local politician that would represent Northumberland well in Parliament. He understands the issues faced by hard working families in Northumberland and has been pained watching people suffer locally because of the Tory policies.

Scott had the following to say when he was confirmed at the Candidate today:

" I am delighted to be put forward once again to the people of Berwick Upon Tweed Constituency."

"To represent my home Constituency where I have lived and worked all my life would be an honour."

" I increased the vote in 2015 with limited resources, putting a positive alternative forward and I will be doing the same again in this short campaign."

"People cannot continue to suffer under this Tory Government and here with this early election we have an opportunity to rid ourselves of them."

Labour have put forward a 10 point plan that I and local activists will be campaigning on:

1. FULL EMPLOYMENT We will create a million good quality jobs across our regions and nations, and guarantee a decent job for all. By investing £500 billion in infrastructure and industry, backed up by a publicly-owned National Investment Bank and regional banks, we will build a high skilled, high tech, low carbon economy to ensure that no one and no community is left behind. We will invest in the high speed broadband, energy, transport and homes that our country needs and allow good businesses to thrive, and support a new generation of co-operative enterprises.

2. A SECURE HOMES GUARANTEE We will build over a million new homes in five years, with at least half a million council homes, through our public investment strategy. We will end insecurity for private renters by introducing rent controls, secure tenancies and a charter of private tenants’ rights, and increase access to affordable home ownership.

3. SECURITY AT WORK We will give people stronger employment rights from day one in a job, end exploitative zero hours contracts, and create new sectoral collective bargaining rights. We will strengthen working people’s representation at work and the ability of trade unions to organise, so that working people have a real voice at work. And we will put the defence of social and employment rights, as well as action against undercutting of pay and conditions through the exploitation of migrant labour, at the centre of the Brexit negotiations agenda for a new relationship with Europe.

4. A SECURE NHS AND SOCIAL CARE We will end health service privatisation and bring services into a secure, publicly-provided NHS. We will integrate the NHS and social care for older and disabled people, funding dignity across the board, and ensure parity for mental health services.

5. A NATIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE We will build a new National Education Service, open to all throughout their lives. We will ensure there is universal childcare to give all children a good start in life, allowing greater sharing of caring responsibilities and removing barriers to women participating in the labour market. We will bring about the progressive restoration of free education for all; and guarantee quality apprenticeships and adult skills training.

6. ACTION TO SECURE OUR ENVIRONMENT We will act to protect the future of our planet, with social justice at the heart of our environmental policies, and take action to fulfil the Paris climate agreement. We will ensure a fair transition to a low-carbon economy, and drive the expansion of the green industries and jobs of the future, using our National Investment Bank to invest in public and community-owned renewable energy. We will deliver clean energy and curb energy bill rises for households – energy for the 60 million, not the Big Six energy companies. We will defend and extend EU environmental protections.

7. PUT THE PUBLIC BACK INTO OUR ECONOMY We will rebuild public services and expand democratic participation, put the public back into our economy, give people a real say in their local communities with increased local and regional democracy. We will act to ‘insource’ our public and local council services, increase access to leisure, arts and sports across the country, and expand our publicly controlled bus network. We will bring our railways into public ownership and extend democratic social control over our energy.

8. CUT INEQUALITY IN INCOME AND WEALTH We will build a progressive tax system so that wealth and the highest earners are fairly taxed, and shrink the gap between the highest and lowest paid. We will act to create a more equal society, boost the incomes of the poorest and close the gender pay gap.

9. ACTION TO SECURE AN EQUAL SOCIETY We will ensure that the human rights of all citizens are respected and all are protected from discrimination and prejudice. We will take action to tackle violence against women and girls, racism and discrimination on the basis of faith, and secure real equality for LGBT and disabled people. We will defend the Human Rights Act and guarantee full rights for EU citizens living and working in Britain – and not allow them to be used as pawns in Brexit negotiations.

10. PEACE AND JUSTICE AT THE HEART OF FOREIGN POLICY We will put conflict resolution and human rights at the heart of foreign policy, commit to working through the United Nations, end support for aggressive wars of intervention and back effective action to alleviate the refugee crisis. We will build human rights and social justice into trade policy, honour our international treaty obligations on nuclear disarmament and encourage others to do the same.