The Green Party have selected their candidate to stand for Darlington MP at the next general election.

Matthew Snedker, currently a Green Party councillor, has been chosen to fight for the seat in the upcoming contest.

Mr Snedker worked as a senior sales manager in the garden centre industry before entering politics in 2019.

Darlington is one of the seats the Green Party is targeting most. 

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Cllr Snedker said:  “We’re facing a double crisis in our country, for our climate and for our democracy, but the Greens have the ideas and the political energy to push for progressive solutions.

"I’m both hopeful and proud to have been chosen to fight this election for the Green Party.

"We speak with one voice in saying ‘Yes’ to fairness and ‘No’ to climate chaos."

Mr Snedker, if elected, wants to focus on bringing environmentally-friendly jobs to the area.

He added: “I am focussed on bringing green jobs to Darlington to give our young people a reason to stay and businesses reasons to move here.

"There are well-paid and secure jobs to be had in delivering a fairer and greener economy, we must ensure that training for these jobs is available in Darlington.

"Other countries are seeing massive investment programmes to green their economies.

"As your MP I would challenge the Chancellor to dig deep to accelerate the green transition, and invest in Darlington.

"Support must also be available for households to cut their fuel bills.

"We should be helping fund energy saving measures and the switch to heat pumps that will reassure people that they will not have to foot the bill on their own.

“Meanwhile, changing planning laws to encourage the development of onshore renewables, with particular incentives for community-owned renewables, would provide a real boost for cleaner and cheaper electricity."

The Green Party point to the success Caroline Lucas had in Brighton for the impact a Green MP can have in an area.

Mr Snedkar said: "Caroline Lucas has demonstrated what a Green MP can achieve.

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"She was the first MP to propose that Parliament declare a Climate Emergency and the first to bring forward an NHS Reinstatement Bill.

"She also fought against fracking, nuclear power and pollution and championed clean, renewable energy, with a call for all suitable roofs in the country to be fitted with solar panels. 

"Our country needs more Green MPs and Darlington can lead the way."