Candidates make their pitch

NUNTHORPE BY-ELECTION VOTERS HEADING TO THE POLLS NEXT WEEK

- By DANIEL HODGSON Local democracy reporter [e-mail]

CANDIDATES have made their pitch to voters ahead of next week's crunch council by-election.

Nunthorpe voters have the opportunity to head to the polls on Thursday, December 4 to elect a new Middlesbrough Council representative to work alongside sitting Conservative Councillor Mieka Smiles.

The five hopefuls and their parties were all contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service and asked to provide a statement explaining why they think they should be Nunthorpe's new ward councillor.

The brief asked for what they hoped to achieve as a councillor and why voters should put their trust in them as an individual as well as their political party.

Candidates were also asked, if successful, whether they would stand again in the 2027 local elections, when all Middlesbrough Council seats will be up for grabs.

Conservative candidate Martin Lyon was first to respond.

He said: "I am standing for election as I believe I can and will make a REAL difference, using my business experience to challenge and add value centrally whilst utilising my experience on the parish council to fight for a fairer representation for Nunthorpe.