Mike Hill MP: We're animal lovers despite headlines

It’s true that emails outnumber actual letters in the age we live in, but the contact from constituents and others is invaluable in helping me stay in tune with the issues that matter to the people I represent and they keep my feet firmly on the ground; though those that know me will vouch for me being totally grounded most of the time.

It will come as no surprise that the issue that concerns most constituents is Brexit. I fully expected that when I came into the job. But I’m sure people reading this will be as shocked as me that the second most prevalent topic is animal cruelty.

Every decent person in Hartlepool - and that’s the overwhelming majority - will have been shocked and disgusted at the antics of the cruel individual who was spotted repeatedly throwing a greyhound into the freezing North Sea near The Headland. Such cruelty is beyond words and it’s no wonder the public reacted the way they did in trying to help track down the culprit.

Unfortunately, the story also made it into the national media. That saddens me. I’d hate to think that Hartlepool had any sort of reputation for animal cruelty, but only a few days later there was another sickening incident of animal cruelty. This involved a dog apparently being deliberately set onto ducks in an horrific attack witnessed by children.

I know for a fact that Hartlepool is a town of animal lovers and the last thing we need is an unfair reputation. I’d urge anyone with information about either of these incidents to contact the police of the RSPCA.

TALKING about unacceptable behaviour, what happened to my friend and locally based paramedic Tony Traynor last week makes my blood boil.

While transferring an elderly patient to Scotland with his blue lights flashing, Tony was hit by a bottle thrown through the window of his ambulance by some yob in Edinburgh. I’m glad to say Tony is ok and thankfully only suffered some cuts and bruises, but it could have been a whole lot worse.

There is absolutely no excuse for anyone attacking emergency workers in the line of duty. People like Tony provide a vital service to the public. We rely on them and value them. They should get our unqualified support at all times.

LABOUR leader Jeremy Corbyn was in Hartlepool last Saturday - though 99.9 per cent of the population would have been blissfully unaware of his visit.

Jeremy normally attracts huge crowds wherever he goes, but his visit to the town was a private trip to see a constituent and was kept deliberately low key. It’s typical of this modest and assuming man that he took the time to make a personal visit, as well as posing for a few impromptu selfies.

Jeremy is a true man of the people as well as PM in waiting.