James Wharton MP

I did an hour long phone in with BBC Tees this morning, answering questions from people across Teesside and discussing a range of local issues.

I attended a reception in Newcastle with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Patterson, and a number of business people from across the North East.

This morning I attended Egglescliffe Community Centre to support their Christmas fundraiser and draw the raffle.  This excellent even was well attended, despite the snow, and helps to raise money to keep the centre going.

In the evening I was guest speaker at Durham University Conservative Association’s Christmas dinner.

This morning I attended the official ceremony marking the begining of work on the former Parkview Care Home site in Thornaby.  When the Council decided to close the home it caused a great deal of concern in the local community and countless residents campaigned for it to be kept open.  That is all history now and the new project will offer a good service to the local community, including sheltered accomodation.

This was followed by a number of meetings at the Stockton office and then later in the afternoon I attended Bridges carers support in Stockton to meet a group of volunteers and service uses to discuss a range of issues.

In the evening I had dinner with our regional MEP and a small group of key representatives from across the region.

I took part in the North East politics show, alongside Ray Mallon and Labour MP Julie Elliot to discuss local government budgets in the region.