Hartlepool faces Parliamentary by-election as Mike Hill resigns as town's Labour MP

The exact reason for Mr Hill’s departure is still unconfirmed and he has been approached for comment.

But a Labour Party spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday, March 16: “Mike Hill has resigned as Member of Parliament for Hartlepool with immediate effect.”

Mr Hill served the town for more than three years after winning the seat at both the 2017 and 2019 General Elections.

With a by-election necessary to choose his successor, Hartlepool residents face the prospect for choosing an MP for the fourth time since 2015.

A spokesperson for Hartlepool Constituency Labour Party said “our priority now is to ensure a candidate is in place quickly”.

The said: “We have been informed that Mike Hill has resigned as MP for Hartlepool with immediate effect.

"Our priority now is to ensure a candidate is in place quickly and we start work immediately on sharing Labour’s positive vision for Hartlepool.

“Over the past ten years Hartlepool has been battered by the Tories down in Westminster.

“All they have done is taken from Hartlepool, they’ve taken services from our hospital and taken police off our streets. The local Tories focus on Middlesbrough and Stockton and Hartlepool is left out.

“Labour stands up for Hartlepool and we’re proud of the town and believe in its future. We want to see new good jobs, the services people need right here, and a thriving town centre when people get back to the shops again. We need a Labour MP who will stand up to the Tories after a decade of neglect.”

A spokesperson for Hartlepool Labour Group also said: “We are aware that Mike Hill has resigned as MP for Hartlepool with immediate effect.

"We are focussed on putting our case that our town would be better off with a Labour council.

“Labour in Hartlepool has been reborn over the past year with new candidates and fresh ideas.

"We’ve got big ideas for the town and how we can make it even better. We’ll be working to get a Labour council here in Hartlepool.

“We also need a Labour Police and Crime Commissioner who will reopen our police station fully. And a Labour Mayor who will focus on Hartlepool and not just on other parts of Teesside.”

Mr Hill was suspended by the Labour Party in Sptember 2019 amid allegations that he had sexually harassed a woman.

He denied the allegations the following day when a spokesperson for him said: “Mike completely rejects these allegations and will co-operate fully with any investigation.”

He had the party whip restored and suspension lifted the following month amid disputed claims that the woman at the centre of the allegations had asked for Labour’s investigation to be paused.

Mr Hill then said: “I would like to thank the people of Hartlepool especially for the support they have shown me and for the personal messages I’ve received.

“I would also like to thank friends and colleagues from across the Labour movement for their help and support throughout my suspension.

“I truly have been humbled by the support from constituents in particular which makes me all the prouder to wear the town badge once again in Parliament.”

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