Conservative Party selects second candidate for St Mary's ward in Whitley Bay ahead of local elections

The North Tyneside Conservatives have selected a new candidate for the St Mary's ward ahead of local elections in May this year.

Ian McAlpine has been officially announced as the new Conservative candidate for St Mary's in Whitley Bay.

According to the North Tyneside Conservative Federation, systems engineer Ian has a "wealth of experience he hopes to bring to the role, from being involved in consultation on the proposed seafront cycle path to helping put together the Conservatives' plan to tackle litter and dog mess with 100 new bins across North Tyneside".

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Mr McAlpine said: "I'm delighted to have the opportunity to work for residents across St Mary's ward, I know there are some important issues like crime and anti-social behaviour that need sorted. I'll work with councillors Judith Wallace and Pam McIntyre to do just that.

"At a time this Labour Council are proposing a five per cent council tax rise to give them more money to spend on vanity projects like the Dutch-style roundabout at Rake Lane, I'll do everything I can to make sure my residents' voices are heard".

The leader of the North Tyneside Conservatives and St Mary's councillor, George Westwater, was deselected in October 2022.

Coun Westwater was to be replaced as a candidate by Tory hopeful Sean Brockbank, who had previously held a seat in Monkseaton South. However, a matter of weeks after Mr Brockbank's official endorsement he decided not to stand, citing personal commitments and differences with the national Conservative party.

Mr Brockbank told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I just think for me, I have got a lot of personal commitments and I cannot give the ward the attention it will need. I was a supporter of Liz Truss and with the Autumn Statement, and with Rishi the party is going in a direction I don't support."

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