Rishi Sunak celebrated with Ben Houchen following his re-election as Tees Valley Mayor after a tough day for the Conservatives in the local elections.

The Prime Minister arrived at Teesside International Airport to cheering from local activists and MPs.

Lord Houchen gave a speech which emphasised how "relieved" he was to be serving a third term.

He said: "I am humbled and proud to get a third term as Tees Valley mayor.

The Northern Echo: Ben Houchen and Rishi Sunak

"Obviously, the election today was absolutely fantastic, I am so so relieved.

"It is the place I was born, grown up, lived all my life and I have such fantastic friends and family here.

"Just really proud to be able to continue the progress that we have made in the last seven years. The plan is still underway, there’s a lot more to do, there’s a lot more progress to be made.

"We’ve got four more years to implement that plan. I just hope to be able to make as much progress as over the first seven years.

"There’s a huge weight of responsibility that comes with that as well."

Mr Sunak congratulated the Tees Valley Mayor for the work he was doing in the region before sending Labour a message that the Tees Valley would not "just stroll back" and support them.

The Northern Echo: Ben Houchen and Rishi Sunak

He said: "When we both came into office this airport was going to be closed down and now there are more flights to more places than ever before. 

"The steelworks are desolate but now one of the most exciting regeneration projects anywhere in the world. You and I (Rishi and Houchen) have done some great things. The treasury is in Darlington, putting this region at the heart of government.

"The freeport is attracting thousands of jobs and investment to the area. That is levelling up in action. That is what you get with Ben taking bold decisions for the region. That is Conservatives delivering.

"I’ve got a message for the Labour party. They know that they had to win here in order to win a general election.

"They assumed that Tees Valley would just stroll back to them but it didn’t. People knew that they couldn’t be taken for granted.

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"They knew that it was Ben and the Conservatives that delivered for them. They stuck with you in this election and I know they will stick with us in the general election."

This comes against the backdrop of the Conservatives losing hundreds of councillors seats across the country.

That included a historic Labour mayoral win in the North East and in York and North Yorkshire.