Councillor John Stockton, of Saddlers Rise, Runcorn, longs to become MP (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Councillor John Stockton, of Saddlers Rise, Runcorn, longs to become MP

7:30am Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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A DREAM of becoming an MP could come a step closer for a Halton councillor on Sunday.

Halton Brook Clr John Stockton, aged 54, of Saddlers Rise, Norton, Runcorn, will be telling Weaver Vale’s Labour party voters at a hustings why they should select him to fight the next election.

He said:“My appeal to residents will be that I’m the only local lad. I know the area, I know the people, I know the problems and how to solve them.

“Mike Hall has done an extremely important job. I want to follow in his shoes and build on his legacy.”

Clr Stockton, a business studies teacher, has lived in Weaver Vale for 23 years.

He works as a curriculum leader at Halewood Centre for Learning, a comprehensive school for 1,400 pupils.

He joined the Labour party 20 years ago and has been Weaver Vale constituency secretary for 15 years.

He fought two previous parliamentary General Elections, for Fylde in 2001 and Altrincham and Sale West in 2004.

Each time, he came second.

Clr Stockton, a Halton councillor for eight years, said: “This time, I’m looking forward to winning the seat for Labour.

“I know it’s a commitment, seven days a week. It is extremely exciting. I really want to do it.“ He is seeking selection against John Prescot’s son, David from London, Justin Mathers from Ellesmere Port and Ben Johnson from Warrington.

Postal ballot results are expected on March 19.

MP Mike Hall resigned due to ill health.