THE defeated Labour candidate in the Tees Valley Mayoral election has urged councillors to work with the Conservative winner in a bid to secure the best results for the area.

Councillor Sue Jeffrey, the Labour leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, urged members to get behind the role.

The Northern Echo: VICTOR: Winning Conservative candidate Ben Houchen Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

VICTOR: Winning Conservative candidate Ben Houchen Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

Last week, Conservative candidate Ben Houchen caused a ‘political earthquake’ when he won the election and became the first ever mayor of the Tees Valley.

The businessman and Tory leader at Stockton Council proved victorious against all the odds.

Despite Labour having council leaders in all five of the boroughs in the Tees Valley, it was Mr Houchen – who pledged to buy Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) if elected – who took office last week.

Speaking at a full council meeting of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Cllr Jeffrey was confident that the role would play an integral part in the rejuvenation of the area.

She said: “It was six months of hard work but the first thing I should do is congratulate Ben Houchen. I have to say very clearly that I didn’t want him to win but these things happen.

“We will have to work with him and get the best for Redcar and Cleveland and the Tees Valley areas.

“The one thing to take from the campaign was that I got to meet members of the public and campaigners from different areas, Stockton, Darlington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, that I wouldn’t usually get to meet.

“The one thing that we did have in common was that we wanted the best for our area, for our children and our grandchildren.

“I would definitely urge anyone who hasn’t visited any of the other towns recently, to do so, because they all have so much to offer.”

Cllr Jeffrey secured 9,471 voted to Ben Houchen’s 7,555 in the first round for her own council area.

When the second preferences were counted Cllr Houchen picked up another 1,628 bringing his total 9,183, while Cllr Jeffrey secured an additional 1,189 votes taking her total to 10,660.

However, it was the Conservative candidate’s performance in the other council areas, particularly Stockton and Darlington, which swung the election in his direction.

The overall count resulted in Cllr Houchen picking up 48,578 votes and finishing more than 2,000 ahead of his Labour opponent who won 46,400 votes.

The turnout for the Mayoral election was higher than expected at 21.31 percent.