People

Matthew Harris, Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough and Thornaby East

Matthew works in property and sustainability. He has worked on projects on London’s Oxford Street – including a short piece on series 2 episode 5 of Oxford Street revealed where he helped organise a charity event for Great Ormond Street Hospital – and St. Pancras International Station.

He currently works with a private firm working with Middlesbrough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority to revitalised Middlesbrough through refitted old buildings as well as making them more user friendly to also be energy efficient and sustainable. This gives him a unique insight into how to improve planning rules to revitalise areas without damaging our green spaces, and while protecting historically important properties in the area and across the country.

He can see that the Middlesbrough’s technology industry, university and even port are growing, with each of these stakeholders having some interest, to varying degrees, in improving the regions green credentials, and having more Green politicians in the area will make sure they have the support they need to be as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible whilst increasing good jobs in the region. It is vital that there are enough schools, dentists and doctors to support the growing number of people for these growing sectors.

Contact Matt at middlesbrough.thornaby.east@votegreen.uk

Rowan McLaughlin, Saltburn

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland

Rowan is an active Green Party member, educator and community activist.

Rowan lives and works in East Cleveland with their family. Their business – Wildthings Saltburn – provides forest school and other environmental and community arts workshops to people in Middlesbrough and East Cleveland. They are co-coordinator of the South Tees Green party, stood for election as a local councillor in Saltburn in May 2023 and as parliamentary candidate for Redcar and East Cleveland in the 2019 General Elections.

When they are not working or hanging out with their family (or at their allotment) most of their time is spent on community and environmental campaigning. They helped establish, and are a director of, Saltburn Community Response which is a place for the whole community to get together and make good things happen for the town, such as the seed swap, thrift trail and community cupboards. They are also part of the Stop Incineration Northeast (S.I.N.E.) campaign and project co-coordinator of the Library of Things Saltburn.

Rowan has been involved with many successful community and environmental projects over the years. So please let them know if you need any help with any problems / projects large or small that will make the life better for the people and wildlife of Middlesbrough and East Cleveland.

Contact Rowan at middlesbrough.south.east.cleveland@votegreen.uk

Ruth Hatton, Redcar

Redcar

Ruth has lived in Redcar for forty of her forty-five years and is a trained accountant. She lives with her son, daughter and various pets. Her hobbies include listening to music and walking with her daughter and their dogs.

Ruth will always stand up to stop the assault on the ecosystems of her hometown. She joined the Green Party after attending a protest about the damage being caused through the dredging for the freeport. She was also active in the campaign to stop the trial of dangerous hydrogen for home heating in Coatham ward.

Ruth knows that the people of Redcar have been promised tax breaks due to the freeport that aren’t coming. The tax breaks are for companies not the public. Our local council is on the verge of bankruptcy due to Conservative policies which need to be reversed to reduce the council tax burden to reduce poverty.  No parent should be suffering sleepless nights because they’re having to go hungry to feed their children. She will support schemes to implement better home insulation to reduce people’s emissions and bills, and to stop the constant Greenwashing by companies who are causing a reliance on fossil fuels when other greener options are available. She promises that, whenever she is not at Westminster fighting for our area, she will hold regular surgeries so the public can get help and assistance from the person who is elected to serve them.

“It’s time someone put people and planet over profits, and I pledge to do that.”

Contact Ruth at redcar@votegreen.uk