The Labour candidate to become MP for Newton Aycliffe has distanced himself from his party’s leader in a controversial leaflet.
Phil Wilson, who has been Labour’s Sedgefield MP since succeeding Tony Blair 10 years ago, insists he’s “no supporter” of Jeremy Corbyn, in a campaign leaflet which is being circulated around the constituency, ahead of the General Election on June 8.
Aycliffe Today understands Labour activists and campaigners are facing an anti-Corbyn response from traditional Labour voters in the Sedgefield seat which has been red for 82 years.
Mr Wilson has already been publicly vocal about his thoughts over Corbyn.
And in his latest campaign leaflet, the Labour candidate says “I am no supporter of Theresa May and I am no supporter of Jeremy Corbyn – the only people I support are you, the people of Sedgefield constituency.
“I put local people and local concerns first – from backing your Brexit, bringing Hitachi here, to fighting to keep your A&E open and for fully funded schools.
“If this means standing up to May, I do. If this means opposing Corbyn, I do.”
Opinion polls suggest the Sedgefield seat will be closely contested in the June 8 election.
Mr Wilson won slightly more votes two years ago than in 2010, but saw his majority reduced from 8,696 to 6,843, polling 18,275 to the Conservative Party’s Scott Wood with 11,432 votes.
The four other candidates for the Sedgefield seat in this year’s general election include Hull resident Dehenna Davison from the Conservatives, Aycliffe Village resident John Grant representing UKIP, Brafferton resident Melissa Wilson representing the Green Party and the Lib Dems’ Stephen Psallidas, from Newcastle.