How did the Chancellor’s plans go down with the Labour politicians on Teesside, who have also been setting out their agenda?
Alex Cunningham, Labour MP for Stockton North, said: “I am delighted the Chancellor has finally discovered where Teesside is with a second visit in two months but I think we can take his promises with a large pinch of salt.
“Government investment and support for industry and business has been a fraction of what it was prior to the 2010 election – and we’ve seen tens of millions of pounds switched from the North-east economy to elsewhere. I haven’t heard any commitment from George Osborne to correct that.
“We saw real growth in the North-east and Teesside prior to 2010 with private sector employment growing by 9.2% between 2003 to 2008.
“Since then, with the exception of a few major developments like the power stations, Nifco and the Hitachi development, we have seen an expansion of low paid, part time and zero contract jobs – hardly the things any power house is made of.
“If the Chancellor puts his money where his mouth in his budget in three weeks’ time, we’ll see his statement as something more than just words.”
Louise Baldock, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Stockton South, accused the Chancellor of regurgitating Labour’s priorities for the region “which also included further funding for transport links”, development of regional ports and airports to encourage better international connectivity and a regional tourism strategy to bring back more visitors.
“Fifty thousand jobs sounds marvellous, but seems like imaginary figures plucked out of the air,” she said. “There’s no substance to it. It’s a bit rich he arrives a few weeks before the general election with sweeteners.”
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