Hexham’s first ever Labour MP Joe Morris. After 100 years of unbroken Conservative MPs he has taken the Northumberland seat.
Richard Moss
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Richard Moss
@BBCRichardMoss
Politics North presenter and Political Editor for @BBCNEandCumbria, @bbcnewcastle, @bbccumbria, @bbctees
- Shoppers in Sunderland were mostly enthusiastic and happy today at the return of non-essential retail despite social distancing and some queues. There was though the odd exception...
00:00 - There are clearly some candidates more local than others - but best I've found so far is Ed Punchard, the Brexit Party candidate in Tynemouth. His address is listed on his nomination as East Fremantle in Western Australia. A mere 9,000 miles from the constituency. #GE2019
- John Major tells South Shields Lecture that the case made for Brexit in 2016 was a fantasy case. The promises placed in front of voters then won’t be in whatever Brexit deal is done. Says he can’t see an intellectual argument against a second referendum.
- Drilling down in to the Hartlepool result does suggest Conservatives shouldn't be that reassured by their two gains. Their vote tally was down in every ward on last year - and often quite significantly. In almost all wards Labour was up. #LocalElections2022
- Berwick's MP warns that if the PM moves towards a Brexit deal with a Customs Union it will be: "the end of the line for this Conservative Government", and says Tory MPs who vote for it would be "tearing up their manifesto commitments and doing irreparable damage to our party."
- Stockton North's @ACunninghamMP has just raised a point of order accusing Home Secretary James Cleverly of saying "because it's a shithole" about his constituency during this PMQ. The Home Secretary has denied saying it, but Alex Cunningham says he wants an apology.
00:00 - One last thought on Levelling Up Fund: I am sure all the schemes funded are good news for chosen communities, but it is a curiosity of a centralised state that someone in Whitehall is choosing between Whorlton Bridge or the Tyne Bridge and Yarm or Billingham on unclear criteria.
- Redcar’s @annaturley, who has just been sworn in as an MP again, has been appointed as a Whip in the new government.
- The Brexit Party topped the polls in every part of the North East from Northumberland to Teesside #EuropeanElectionResults
- Breaking: DEFRA committee chairman Robert Goodwill writes to Sec of State @theresecoffey calling for urgent investigation into causes of sea life death off North East coast; review of dredging; pyridine checks to be done; and wants expert panel formed to review evidence
- NEW Prime Minister @BorisJohnson tells me legislation to introduce freeports offering tax-break zones for businesses in places like Teesport in Teesside could be introduced quickly if we leave the EU on October 31.
00:00 - North Tyneside MP @GlindonMary is one of those who says she cannot return to the Commons today as her husband Ray has incurable cancer and is shielding. She tells me why she isn’t prepared to risk his life by going back and forth to London.
00:00 - Labour have lost the Mayoral race in Middlesbrough by a huge margin. Independent businessman Andy Preston gets 17,418 votes, Labour candidate Mick Thompson 6693. #LocalElections2019