Hartlepool by-election candidate says she will campaign for crackdown on abuse against women

Gemma Evans will be representing the party as one of the 16 candidates standing to become Hartlepool MP at the Parliamentary by-election on Thursday, May 6.

Ms Evans, 38, from Hetton, Sunderland, has said abuse to women is a “huge, huge problem” across the country and is calling on authorities to be held to account to help ensure their safety.

She said she has suffered domestic abuse previously, which led to her becoming involved with the Women’s Equality Party (WEP).

The mother-of-two said: “For me, I’m a local girl, I’ve experienced domestic abuse, harassment and I speak from the heart when I campaign.

“Harassment and violence is just something that all women are experiencing and we’ve just had enough.”

Following her experiences, Ms Evans has become a motivational speaker and self love and confidence coach for women who have been the victims of abuse.

She noted how the issue has again been brought to people’s attention following the death of Sarah Everard last month, which led to huge outpourings of grief and vigils being held.

She added she has previously said she would stand aside and support the Labour campaign if they were to take on board their policies to help tackle the abuse women face.

Ms Evans said: “They can give speeches and say how they’re going to fight it and how they’re going to tackle it but they actually do need to stand up and do what they say they’re going to do.

“That is one of the reasons why I’m fighting to say you need to start taking on board some of our policies, you need to take it more seriously and understand that women don’t feel safe.

“I’ve said I will stand aside and support their campaign in Hartlepool, but if they don’t then I will campaign to take votes.”

Ms Evans previously stood in Bury South in the 2019 General Election, as one of three WEP candidates standing across the country.

She added that she enjoyed the experience and it was an example of “giving power to women to actually stand up and speak out’.

She said: “I’ve always stuck by the motto I can never ever change what happened to me.

“But if by standing up and speaking out I can prevent it from happening to somebody else or I can give somebody else the strength to walk away from an abusive relationship then I will constantly tell my story and I will constantly campaign with the likes of the Women’s Equality Party to raise awareness.”

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