As Christmas approaches and families gather to celebrate the festive season, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This is also a moment to reflect on a positive year for our community and highlight what we have achieved together.
One of the most important milestones was working with factory workers, union members and other staff at Hitachi to secure a £300 million deal in April. This agreement helps protect hundreds of skilled jobs at the factory. It follows the £500 million deal signed last December and shows strong support for Hitachi and clear backing of our local workforce.
It was great to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in September. I was proud to lead a debate in Parliament highlighting the contribution that our area made to travel around the world. It was a privilege to join the Lord Lieutenant in welcoming 1,500 residents to the Hitachi Open Day so our community could see for themselves modern rail manufacturing taking place so close to where passenger rail began. Heighington Station was the world’s first railway station, but for too long had been left to decay. The brilliant volunteers at the Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway have been raising money to save the station. It was a real pleasure to highlight their campaign in parliament and work with industry to help them secure the final major donation they needed to protect the historic buildings for the future.
Supporting families has been central to my work this year too. I am proud to have worked with the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson MP as her Parliamentary Private Secretary to help give every child the opportunities they deserve and families the support they need. In the year ahead I hope the changes, including 30 hours of free childcare, expanding school-based nurseries and removing the two-child benefit cap, start to make a real difference to families in Aycliffe.
Over the past year I’ve been proud to help local residents with 6,500 issues from housing and benefits to transport and healthcare. In 2026 I’m committed to continuing to work hard to serve our community and push for a strong future for our area. My office remains open throughout the Christmas period to support residents – if I can help with anything please email me on: alan.strickland.mp@parliament.uk
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.