Dear Editor,
I was disappointed to see former Shildon Town Councillor, Fred Langley, attempt to mislead your readers in the most recent edition of the Shildon Town Crier and I feel I must reply.
Firstly, it is categorically untrue to say that I was “parachuted in” by Labour’s National Executive Committee. I was chosen as Labour’s candidate for the Bishop Auckland Constituency in July 2022 by a democratic vote of 570 local Labour Party members.
Prior to this, I had already been active in our local community for several years, including in 2019, when Mr Langley falsely claimed I was a candidate elsewhere.
This is not the first time Mr Langley has spread these falsehoods. Previously, I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he was simply mistaken, and patiently corrected him. To see him now double-down, I can only conclude he is deliberately trying to mislead people.
Secondly, I am hurt by Mr Langley’s suggestion I do not belong here.
When I was seven my family moved to Blackpool because my dad’s job was relocated. I lived there until I was eighteen. While I have moved a few times for study and employment opportunities, I consider the Bishop Auckland area my home. It’s where we’ve put down roots, and where we’re raising our family. My parents, aunty, sister, and father-in-law all live a few minutes away.
I love our local community and I show so by my actions: getting my hands dirty and my feet wet, cleaning up the river at South Church for a Big Help Out, which I organised last year for the King’s Coronation; raising £3,000 with my kids for Children North East to fight child poverty in our area; running foodbank deliveries during lock-down; working with disadvantaged children in local schools as a Brilliant Club tutor; and campaigning to bring NHS dentists back to Shildon, are just some examples of this.
That sad thing is, were it not for his blind prejudice towards me, Mr Langley might see we share some common goals. I have previously offered to meet him, and I extend the same invitation again.
However people choose to vote, I will work cooperatively with anybody who wants to improve Shildon and create more opportunities for local people.
Yours sincerely,
Sam Rushworth, Labour Candidate for the Bishop Auckland Constituency.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
