Ian Swales MP re-selected to fight for Redcar

At the January meeting of Redcar Constituency Liberal Democrats this evening, Ian Swales, Liberal Democrat MP for Redcar Constituency, was unanimously reselected to stand in the 2015 General Election. 

Ian, who was elected with the biggest swing in the country in 2010, has been a strong voice for Redcar Constituency and the region in Parliament. He he serves as Lib Dem Treasury Spokesman, has been Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Chemical Industry and as the only trained accountant on the influential Public Accounts Committee. 

Locally, Ian has overseen the beginning of a new future for manufacturing on Teesside - with huge sums of Government money to create jobs and stimulate growth here, than anywhere else in the country. Unemployment is now at its lowest level since 2009 and according to the North East Chamber of Commerce, the indicators for business sales and jobs are the best since 1995. He campaigned hard to get the steelworks restarted and has taken up thousands of cases for local people since 2010. 

Nationally, Ian has been at the forefront of campaigning for a stronger economy and a fairer society: tackling the cost of living by giving hard working people a £700 tax cut, freezing fuel duty and extending free childcare; introducing the triple lock guarantee for the state pension - an extra £800 a year so far; giving our children the best start in life by introducing free school meals for infants and giving more money to schools for the less advantaged; and providing opportunities by creating 1.2million new apprenticeships and one million jobs, so far. 

Commenting on Ian's reselection, Josh Mason, Chair of Redcar Constituency Liberal Democrats said: 

" Ian is a local man with exactly the experience of industry and business we need to get our area back on its feet. He's made a huge impact since being elected in 2010. We're very lucky to have him!" 

On his own reselection, Ian commented: 

"I'm delighted that the Liberal Democrats have put their faith in me to represent them again at the next general election.

"After decades of decline - with falling employment and failing industry over successive Labour and Tory Governments, there's no quick fix for our local economy. But things are definitely starting to improve here - manufacturing is increasing all the time and unemployment is at its lowest level since 2009. 

"I hope to be able to continue the fight we've started to bring jobs and prosperity back to our area."