“I really enjoyed visiting the mine and seeing for myself all the work being done down there. Boulby Potash Mine is hugely important to our local economy and employs around a thousand people. It was great to meet some of the lads and talk to them about the work they’re doing and get a sense of the community feel which exists amongst the miners.

“I previously worked closely with Ashok Kumar in supporting the mine management and the workforce with some crucial issues where Government or local authority help was needed. This included helping to ensure that planning proposals to allow the mine to develop and expand were handled properly by the National Park authority and the Park Committee. We also worked with the government to ensure that an export guarantee facility could be given to cover the export of salt to Brazilian customers at a time when domestic market sales for salt and potash were at a low ebb.

“The management told me on my visit that the prospects for the future of the mine are very positive and if elected I pledge to do anything within my power to support the management and the workers.”