OUTSIDE of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn’s popularity and credibility is at rock bottom. So, his endorsement of Sue Jeffrey as the People’s Party’s candidate for the job of Tees Valley mayor is a bit of a poisoned chalice.
At this stage, understandably, Sue is making the vague promise “to rebuild our power, pride and passion” but, when she comes down from the clouds, I hope she makes pledges which, if successful, she will honour.
At the 2015 Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council local elections, Sue made the specific promise that: “To help tackle the cost of living crisis we will freeze your council tax bill for at least the next two years.”
But, as leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Sue put up the council tax bill by two per cent in 2016, and is proposing to increase it by four per cent this year. So much for her election pledge and “the cost of living crisis”.
No matter what Jeremy Corbyn says, the Tees Valley electorate should take heed.
Steve Kay, Redcar and Cleveland councillor
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