New Tory MP’s Xmas Day shift at chemical plant
A NEW Conservative MP who won a seat in the so-called ‘red wall’ worked a 12-hour shift at a chemical plant on Christmas Day – because he didn’t want to ‘drop the lads in it’.
Jacob Young, 26, was ‘totally taken by surprise’ when he took the Labour stronghold seat of Redcar, in north Yorkshire, after overturning a 9,485 majority.
So low were his expectations, Mr Young had already agreed to work from 7am to 7pm yesterday as a chemical process operator in Wilton, in his new constituency. But Mr Young vowed to work his agreed shifts over the festive period so that his colleagues weren’t called in to cover him.
‘Winning in Redcar was a surprise to everyone, including my employer,’ he said.
‘They have been incredibly flexible with me and I was given the choice to work until the end of the month or to leave straight away.
‘I was already rostered to work
Christmas, so I chose to do these last few shifts so that people weren’t called out to work when most people will have already made plans.
‘If I didn’t do Christmas Day I’d be dropping the lads at work in it.’
Mr Young is part of a new wave of 20- something Conservative MPs who upset the odds to take seats in traditional Labour heartlands.
Others include Dehenna Davison, 26, the new MP for Bishop Auckland, as well as Antony Higginbotham in Burnley and Elliot Colburn in Carshalton and Wallington.
Mr Young added: ‘I am still buzzing from winning. Teesside is my home and always has been. I’ve spent the last nine years working and training in Redcar, so to win here is special and incredibly humbling.’ Mr Young is also scheduled to work night shifts tomorrow and Saturday.
‘It feels weird this is going to be my last cycle working here,’ he said. ‘Over the years I’ve made some great friends and the amount of time you spend at work, you see people here more than you see most of your family. I’ll miss it but I’m looking forward to my new role.’