Paddy Tipping on serving Hucknall: "It's been a privilege."

Paddy Tipping served the people of Hucknall for the best part of 30 years. Firstly, as the MP for Sherwood from 1992 until 2010, and most recently as the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner from 2012 until May this year.

He spoke exclusively to Nub News about his time in public office, memories of Hucknall and what the future holds for him after defeat in the recent election.

Following an unsuccessful attempt to unseat Ken Clarke from his Rushcliffe seat in 1987, Tipping stood for election in the Sherwood constituency against the late Conservative MP Andy Stewart. Stewart had been MP for the area since the constituency was formed in 1983 but Tipping polled 47.5% of the vote to take the seat from him by nearly 3000 votes.

Tipping's fondness for and knowledge of Hucknall is clear and he is proud of the impact he had and his main achievements whilst in office.

"Although I was the MP for Sherwood my constituency office has always been or was always in Hucknall, that reflected my desire to be where most of the action was .

"There were loads of things that I was really proud of, investment in the health service with the Blair/Brown government, a lot of extra money into education. I'm really pleased that we've finally got the town centre sorted out, the relief road was important and there's some really strong local organisations in the Hucknall area.

"I'm still involved with Hucknall under one roof on Vine Terrace, I'm on the committee there. I've always had a lot to do with Moor Pond Woods just down by the Vaughan Estate as you're going down to Papplewick, it's an amazing place. You can often see me there with the grandkids.

"And of course the town is continuing to grow, Top Wighay for example, a lot of new housing up there so the town's changed. I'm old enough to remember it being called 'Mucky Hucknall' but it's certainly not that anymore."

Three more election victories would follow Tipping's initial success as the Labour Party moved into power in 1997 under Tony Blair's leadership and enjoyed three terms in office. Tipping then chose to step down as an MP at the 2010 election, citing health reasons having suffered a heart attack the year before.

After two years away from the public eye, Tipping was elected Nottinghamshire's first Police and Crime Commissioner in 2012.

Reflecting on this he said: "It was a bit hard, as there was no blueprint, it was the first time it had been done and it was controversial. I replaced the old police authority; they weren't very happy about that. Chief Constables were anxious I think about having somebody elected coming in to work with them but actually it worked out quite well.

"The big thing that's happened in Hucknall for the police is that the police station on Watnall Road is now closed. It's been sold, it's going for residential development. We did offer it up as a site for the new health centre but the council and the NHS preferred elsewhere. Of course, the police station is now part of a tri-service centre with the ambulance service and the fire service and in terms of efficiency that's been a good thing. Police numbers are up in Hucknall as they are across the county. Crime's down in Hucknall so it's quite a good, compelling story in Hucknall, with more to do."

Tipping was instrumental in Hucknall getting the county's first tri-service Emergency Services Hub. He believes this is a real coup for the town.

"Being all based together is good for all three professions because to some extent they're serving the same people so it's a good knowledge and information hub; it saves money, that's important too. It's a first for Hucknall, first for Nottinghamshire, I think we'll see more of them coming along."

Asked to summarise what it had been like to serve the town for so long, Tipping said: "It's been a privilege. I've had two privileges involving Hucknall, I was the first and only Labour MP for the Sherwood constituency and Hucknall. I was the first Police and Crime Commissioner for the area so it's been an enormous privilege. I'm pleased with what we've been able to achieve, I'd got plans going forward, I'm a bit disappointed that I'm not going to take those forward but that's the way of life, things change."

A second term followed his first as Nottinghamshire PCC with re-election in 2016. However, he was denied a third term as Conservative candidate Caroline Henry beat him in May's election. Asked about reasons for his recent defeat, Tipping pointed to the current political climate.

"If you look at the polls nationally, it was the day of the Hartlepool by-election, not a good result for Labour. If you look at the Council results certainly the County Council result, not a good result for Labour. Let's be clear in the old days Hucknall was a Labour stronghold, we don't hold the County Council seats in Hucknall now, and on Ashfield District Council, just two of the Councillors for Hucknall are Labour.

"I think Brexit was a key turning point. Certainly my perception is in places like Hucknall, people were very keen to come out of the EU. Labour's position wasn't as clear as it might have been, I think that was a turning point. The previous leader, Jeremy Corbyn, certainly didn't go down well with parts of Hucknall and that was difficult."

On what life is like post The Police and Crime Commissioner role and what the future holds for him, he said: "It's a bit easier. I'm not getting up at six o'clock in the morning any longer, I have a bit of a lie in until half past seven.

"Because of lockdown last year my garden would have won the Chelsea Flower Show! It's blooming at the moment, I'm really proud of what I've achieved.

"I'm doing lots and lots of different things and there are lots of offers in the pipeline, I'm going to have to make some choices about what I want to do but I'm just enjoying the real sunshine in June after a real dismal, rained off May."