Hertford and Stortford Labour Party appoints official parliamentary spokesman

Hertford and Stortford Labour Party members have unanimously voted for Josh Dean as their official parliamentary spokesman.

Josh stood as the Labour candidate in the Hertford St Andrews division in the 2021 Hertfordshire County Council elections, increasing the party's vote share by 15.8% and coming within 170 votes of winning the seat.

He was previously involved in campaigns across the constituency including the We Are Hertford campaign on the Lea Wharf redevelopment. He has also supported youth climate activists in Bishop’s Stortford.

He said: “I’m proud to have been appointed by members to speak on behalf of the local Labour Party. I was born in Hertford and Stortford, I’ve grown up here and I’ve worked here. I’m passionate about tackling the issues that face people in our communities because I see those issues affecting my friends, family and neighbours every day.”

He added: “Twelve years of Conservative rule has left residents in Hertford and Stortford with high tax and low growth, wages that run out earlier every month, escalating crime and an NHS that’s going in the wrong direction, and our MP has spent more time in Parliament scrambling to provide cover for a scandal-mired Prime Minister than addressing residents’ concerns.

“I genuinely believe that politics can be a force for good. I will hold our local MP to account for her record, but I will not engage in nasty personal attacks.

"Above all, I will be focused on communicating a positive Labour vision for the constituency as we prepare for the 2023 local elections and, eventually, a General Election.”

The party expects to select a parliamentary candidate next summer. Labour has retained second place in Hertford and Stortford in every General Election since 2015. The seat has been held by Conservative Julie Marson since December 2019.