Ben Houchen - Guardian

Linthorpe_Exile said:
Article about, well, him mainly but perhaps I'm being unfair. What do any of you who live locally think ???
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I don't live locally, but looking from outside, it appears that there's a lot of things announced and not a lot happening.

I recognise that's probably due to the election cycle v time taken to carry out infrastructure work, but the Tees crossing is a good example. That was originally announced in 2019 to start in 2023 and is now mooted to start in 2025.

I would be interested to be pointed towards things that have actually been done rather than announced.
 
Unravel_Morrison said:
I don't live locally, but looking from outside, it appears that there's a lot of things announced and not a lot happening.

I recognise that's probably due to the election cycle v time taken to carry out infrastructure work, but the Tees crossing is a good example. That was originally announced in 2019 to start in 2023 and is now mooted to start in 2025.

I would be interested to be pointed towards things that have actually been done rather than announced.
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Yes, I feel the same when I return to visit the family.
 
Not in the area so can't comment on actual delivery of the promises.

It reads like a personal statement on a job application.

Also, turnout was 34%, not exactly the massive endorsement he is inferring.
 
He really does seem to believe that once the press release with his pic in a little white hard hat has gone out that his work is done and its another success to be chalked up.

I know its Tory Party Conference week and they're struggling to find any real tangible successes to point to after 11 years in government, but if Houchen wants to be seen as something other than a one trick pony by his sceptics he might want to shut up for a bit and follow through on some of the pledges he has made.

I can't go through the article line by line to refute some of the claims made, as there is a lot of words and management speak with very little detail or substance, but the crux of his argument seems to be 'give regions more control' before criticising the way regions such as Scotland and Manchester have used those crumbs from the table. You can't have it both ways.
 
Not too sure about that Teesside figure, because stats that I can see, places like Bulgaria, Israel and Greece for instance have figures above anywhere in the U.K.
 
Or the crime rates
crimerate.co.uk

Middlesbrough Crime and Safety Statistics

Did you know that Middlesbrough is the most dangerous city in North Yorkshire? If you're looking at Middlesbrough's crime and safety history, you must read this before making an informed decision.
crimerate.co.uk
Or that food bank useage rates are 53% up on last year.
Or that NHS waiting lists are at record highs
 
Lottowyn said:
Not too sure about that Teesside figure, because stats that I can see, places like Bulgaria, Israel and Greece for instance have figures above anywhere in the U.K.
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Isreal is in Europe now? Well I never.

Seems a strange defence of something too: "We aren't as bad as Bulgaria". No disrespect to Bulgaria but is that what we need to aspire to?
 
SmallTown said:
Isreal is in Europe now? Well I never.

Seems a strange defence of something too: "We aren't as bad as Bulgaria". No disrespect to Bulgaria but is that what we need to aspire to?
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I never quite understand the "no disprect too" line..... you are disrespecting the bulgars!
 
zzzzz said:
Nothing has moved to Darlington yet.
Net Zero Teesside is a long way from getting sanction.... 18 months at least
Nothing has happened with the 'Freeport'
Usual bluster but the problem is it's bluster that makes headlines and gets votes.
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I came across this on linkedin a couple of days ago, doesnt look like the traeasury has moved yet or not many of them anyway, but new jobs even if only 60 are always welcome.
 

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afcb_acklam said:
I never quite understand the "no disprect too" line..... you are disrespecting the bulgars!
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Am I? It was a question. Fine if we are. Just if you look at historical world economies you would probably say a country like the UK shouldn't be aiming for parity with a country like Bulgaria. That's nothing against the fine Bulgarian people just an emotionless and factual comparison of the two economies.
 
Priv said:
I came across this on linkedin a couple of days ago, doesnt look like the traeasury has moved yet or not many of them anyway, but new jobs even if only 60 are always welcome.
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They won't come. The Treasury are desperatly trying to get the staff to move North but they just won't do it.
Tbf there's slightly different cultural interest between Darlo and London.

Sunak is my MP. I will say that for a man who bought the seat and had zero connection to the area he does visit occasionally.
Nobody has ever seen his family up here but at least he shows his face now and than.
 
zzzzz said:
They won't come. The Treasury are desperatly trying to get the staff to move North but they just won't do it.
Tbf there's slightly different cultural interest between Darlo and London.

Sunak is my MP. I will say that for a man who bought the seat and had zero connection to the area he does visit occasionally.
Nobody has ever seen his family up here but at least he shows his face now and than.
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He’s my MP as well.
 
zzzzz said:
They won't come. The Treasury are desperatly trying to get the staff to move North but they just won't do it.
Tbf there's slightly different cultural interest between Darlo and London.
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I was reading an article from The Echo when it was announced and the general consensus from locals was "Why wouldn't they want to move here?"

Like they don't actually live somewhere now that they don't want to move away from.

The ambitious civil servants will always gravitate towards London, unless they really did a complete overhaul of the structures, which we know they won't.
 
One of the main arguments put forward against PR is that it breaks the link between the MP and the people of the constituency. Yet with Sunak, that woman in hartlepoool and probably countless others, they hardly ever set foot in their constituency
 
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