(As first printed in Northern Echo) THE Labour candidate for Tees Valley Mayor, Jessie Joe Jacobs, has hit out at Mayor Ben Houchen’s comments on social media regarding jobs for ‘local lads’. In a Tweet Mr Houchen posted to his account yesterday, he said: “Our Teesworks site will create years of work for local lads from Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.” Ms Jacobs said: “When it … Continue reading Labour candidate hits out at Tees Valley mayor after tweet about jobs for ‘local lads’

UNEMPLOYMENT in the Tees Valley has sky-rocketed, with 12,375 job losses since March, figures published today by the House of Commons library reveal. Today’s figures, which record the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits, show that since March there has been a colossal jump in claimants of 76% in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland and 79% in Stockton South. Jessie Jacobs, Labour candidate for Tees … Continue reading Jessie demands urgent action to tackle unemployment freefall in Tees Valley after speaking with food and drinks industry leaders

For many years I have worked with, and championed, women across the Tees Valley and one of the big issues that regularly comes up is the need for good, affordable childcare.  The UK currently has the 7th most expensive childcare in the world with families spending on average 36% of income on childcare.  In comparison for many of our European neighbours the proportion is much … Continue reading Lack of affordable childcare is holding our economy back

This week our current Tees Valley mayor  announced the commissioning of the demolition of our iconic blast furnace, previously describing it as a scar on the land. I don’t see our blast furnace as a scar, I see it as one of the most beautiful and iconic industrial structures in the world! The original plans for the old SSI site included exploring saving part of … Continue reading A future for the Blast Furnace?

Last week I was speaking to teachers in the Tees Valley who shared how they’d been spending their own money on feeding, clothing and providing gas and electric for their pupils and I was astounded. How have our teachers become social workers over educators? Since 2014/15 the number of families in poverty has risen nationally by a staggering 2.8% but in our region the stats … Continue reading Lets put an end to Child Poverty in the Tees Valley for good!