24th April 2010

Tory Leader David Cameron has let slip to Jeremy Paxman that he is targeting the North East for cuts.

He wants to put our local economy in the firing line to pay for his huge tax breaks for the 3000 richest estates in the UK.

Labour’s candidate for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Tom Blenkinsop, claimed the ‘true face of Toryism in the North East has been revealed’.

Tom said “In that interview David Cameron said – and I quote – ‘there are parts of the country, including the North East’ where public spending is ‘unsustainable’.

“This is the true face of Toryism. In the North East there are high levels of public spending. But much of this is accounted for by benefits paid to people suffering from the historical legacy of illness and disability brought about by working occupations like steelmaking, shipbuilding and mining. Any cuts will impact on these vulnerable groups immediately. In addition the private sector in the North East cannot reach the levels of competitiveness that will be needed without help from the public sector, whether that be in the form of support from our Regional Development Agency or through training and research funded by local colleges and universities.”

Tom concluded “I also note that the Tories in this area had to go into damage limitation after this interview, with Lord Michael Bates, a local Tory Peer quoted in a regional newspaper as saying “we need to get the region back in balance by growing the private sector, not cutting the public sector’. The question has to be asked which Tory is giving the real answer ? The public of the North East deserve to know.”

Tell the Tories what you think:

On facebook: By joining the Hands Off the North East Group

On Twitter: Using the hashtag #HandsOffNE