There is one issue that people mention to me in every single town and village in North West Durham: speeding. It is both dangerous and anti-social, and a huge issue on our country roads as well as in the more built up areas.
The Lord Chancellor has just commissioned the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman to conduct an independent, special investigation into Medomsley Detention Centre.
As I've said before, I want UNITE and Go North East to get round the table to sort this situation out. There could be more talks between them or the could go through ACAS - the independent arbitration model. I don't think that the operator and the union are that far apart.
I am proud to support the poppy appeal 2023, launching the local effort by laying a wreath with Vera ‘Mrs Poppy’ Parnaby and the fantastic cadets from 1409 Consett Squadron - Air Cadets at Christ Church, #Consett today.
It was fantastic to invite Tobias Heintz to Number 10 Downing Street to meet the Education Secretary. As an apprentice once upon a time herself, they had a lot to talk about.
Exciting new announcement: the North of England and the Midlands are getting £150 million of new funding for local bus services next year! This is enough to support up to 25 million miles of new bus services. For the North East Transport Authority this means an extra £11.2 million for 2024/5.
