The Northern Echo | Politics https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/politics/ The Northern Echo Politics en-gb Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:51 +0100 Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:51 +0100 https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/rss/terms/ M6 toby.granville@newsquest.co.uk (Toby Granville) webmaster@digitalmedia.newsquest.co.uk (Tim Joy) https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/images/sitelogoalt/?type=rsslogo The Northern Echo | Politics https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/politics/ Government is right for many reasons to allow Jackdaw gas drilling to go ahead https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26658577.echo-comment-government-allows-gas-extraction-jackdaw/?ref=rss Wed, 21 Oct 2026 20:00:00 +0100 ff50ab05a507b34130c4e5d54026940d Echo Comment Andy Burnham orders review of gas bills with move that could help households https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/26657273.andy-burnham-asks-gas-standing-charges-can-scrapped/?ref=rss Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:09:52 +0100 71baed724e3535be976495d6273ab127 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright 'Totally pointless' - Councillors reject plans to allow weekend voting in elections https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26653875.redcar-cleveland-councillors-reject-weekend-voting-pilot/?ref=rss Tue, 20 Oct 2026 15:00:00 +0100 4905e62917eeff41602196f3a9bc8dad Stuart Arnold Labour should heed the warning from voters after dramatic surge in Green support https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26647381.labour-warned-green-surge-holborn-st-pancras/?ref=rss Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0100 0a39052279abdcd6f552b62089696865 Reader's letter Middlesbrough and Sunderland 'hardest places to grow up' - report finds https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26647173.middlesbrough-sunderland-hardest-places-grow-up/?ref=rss Sun, 18 Oct 2026 11:49:15 +0100 745bc209b9dd4ffb36be2cf6a30df853 Joshua Nichol and Georgia Bates, Press Association MP says crime 'won't be tolerated' after suspected arson rips through Aycliffe homes https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26643064.alan-strickland-appalled-newton-aycliffe-suspected-arson/?ref=rss Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:27:00 +0100 16a63473fa9ca5f7bcbfde1fabd97c86 anna.barnes@newsquest.co.uk | Anna Barnes Our own people should be the priority as charities struggle to support those in need https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26641395.durham-writer-says-struggling-local-people-prioritised/?ref=rss Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0100 34c7f67463ca2777c8b03afb261d1e45 Reader's letter Nursery handed damning food hygiene rating over out-of-date snacks https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26642006.middlesbrough-nursery-given-food-hygiene-rating-one/?ref=rss Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:45:41 +0100 082828032181690ebd6a0e107d8f7f7d Daniel Hodgson DWP State Pension age row deepens as 80,000 demand retirement at 65 https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26641946.dwp-state-pension-age-row-deepens-80k-demand-retirement-65/?ref=rss Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:23:26 +0100 561dcc00994f88d4e9db0034f75a85b7 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright 'We are battling Labour on plans to house illegal immigrants in County Durham homes' https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26637250.andrew-husband-bringing-billions-investment-county-durham/?ref=rss Thu, 15 Oct 2026 05:30:00 +0100 fbaed289d369209057dc939f1a2ce068 Andrew Husband Welcoming a second review of the combined authority: it must clear the air https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26640737.echo-comment-new-best-value-inspection-tees-valley/?ref=rss Thu, 15 Oct 2026 20:00:00 +0100 d337b088d07a6d30b96c796b47ef663a Echo Comment Political row erupts over £17m of council contracts awarded under exceptions https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26639639.row-17-3m-stockton-council-contracts/?ref=rss Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:00:00 +0100 fb97ee0c6f01803042e04ab7b6fbb5c8 Gareth Lightfoot Trump's AI tiger video shows callous lack of judgement https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26637434.echo-comment-trump-posts-ai-video-wrestling-tiger/?ref=rss Wed, 14 Oct 2026 20:00:00 +0100 e35bd268d4a2711a365eb863eac9cd0f Echo Comment DWP State Pension age row deepens as 80,000 demand retirement at 65 https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/26636404.dwp-state-pension-age-row-deepens-80k-demand-retirement-65/?ref=rss Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:18:48 +0100 66da02e33a72fd3408a2ff697c478ac7 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright Nearly 69,000 want maternity pay changed – now the Government has responded https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26630466.maternity-pay-government-responds-calls-higher-payments/?ref=rss Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:19:49 +0100 dd0e548ce5c964ddc4cad1748f938409 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright Blair's closure deserves dignity, not political point-scoring over Darlington Market https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26630104.darlington-market-closure-not-politicised-writer-says/?ref=rss Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0100 745e2c7b5feb46507e06432be18b8595 Reader's letter Nearly 69,000 want maternity pay changed – now the Government has responded https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/26628934.maternity-pay-government-responds-calls-higher-payments/?ref=rss Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:38:44 +0100 482e61a62cb22585879a8d344406065e jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright US bombers should leave Britain for good and take nuclear weapons with them https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26626486.darlington-writer-calls-us-bombers-nuclear-weapons-leave-uk/?ref=rss Mon, 12 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0100 d3edeaab733864879893c392db999f19 Reader's letter Millions aged 40 and over could be automatically signed up to new social care scheme https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26628484.pensioners-prepay-protect-savings-care-costs/?ref=rss Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:23:07 +0100 5970c1f1a8f379cbade5318b950f8821 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright Millions aged 40 and over could be automatically signed up to new social care scheme https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/26626725.pensioners-prepay-protect-savings-care-costs/?ref=rss Mon, 12 Oct 2026 07:46:52 +0100 accb512ca2c931da3ca02efb7b6cb78b jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright North Yorkshire councillor quits Green Party saying ‘the party has left me' https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26619576.councillor-quits-green-party-becomes-independent/?ref=rss Fri, 09 Oct 2026 17:30:00 +0100 0f9a4a9606bb98957d2af77bf2fcc36d joe.willis@newsquest.co.uk | Joe Willis Sad day for Darlington as 151-year-old JJ Blair & Sons stall closes https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26624324.echo-comment-closure-blairs-stall-darlington-covered-market/?ref=rss Fri, 09 Oct 2026 20:00:00 +0100 ea10b730e6299358700f752c911f1b36 Echo Comment Pensioners could get a bigger HMRC tax-free Personal Allowance under new calls https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26621095.pensioners-calls-state-pension-hmrc-personal-allowance-change/?ref=rss Fri, 09 Oct 2026 07:51:30 +0100 a6c359076989b92c6b4ba022de8e1574 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright The horrors in Ukraine seem to be fading from our front pages https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26620636.echo-comment-worsening-war-ukraine/?ref=rss Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:30:00 +0100 7cf8090299ce3310e4c5cc2f87a1e203 Echo Comment Pensioners could get a bigger HMRC tax-free Personal Allowance under new calls https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/26618892.pensioners-calls-state-pension-hmrc-personal-allowance-change/?ref=rss Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:32:45 +0100 03948161eb8eebe84cc6fb44fae0a6e9 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright Huge UK inheritance tax break could allow parents to pass on extra £1m https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26617652.families-get-1m-inheritance-tax-break-kemi-badenoch-plan/?ref=rss Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:28:32 +0100 acf20e3a2a54a8c3b54ca5fec59cb847 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright Kemi Badenoch rejects Reform deal as Conservatives return to traditional ground https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26616967.echo-comment-kemi-badenochs-speech-end-conference/?ref=rss Wed, 07 Oct 2026 19:30:00 +0100 9f71ff5e53854c93fefa7a3a1c99afba Echo Comment Britain needs a new direction - but returning to the EU is not the answer https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26611277.britain-needs-change-returning-eu-not-answer/?ref=rss Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0100 ae3671bbbcae830457550192098ad887 Reader's letter Nigel Farage has 'confidence' in Durham County Council leader as majority cut to one https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26608585.nigel-farage-confidence-durham-county-council-leader/?ref=rss Tue, 06 Oct 2026 05:30:00 +0100 9625bb028069f0ef3925f4c37d99ca61 joshua.nichol@newsquest.co.uk | Joshua Nichol Government must look closer to home before inflicting more pain on businesses https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26611026.government-urged-cut-costs-hitting-businesses/?ref=rss Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0100 84e4f67a191c2301f28db7d54d35f4f8 Reader's letter New powers could ban 'intimidating' use of balaclavas and masks in North East town https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26612028.hartlepool-bring-new-powers-balaclavas-masks/?ref=rss Tue, 06 Oct 2026 14:22:28 +0100 4ec6b524b6bc505e461ecb2b764be533 Chris Binding Council's £17m contracts without competition 'much higher' than officer expected https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26611984.stockton-council-awarded-17m-contracts-without-competition/?ref=rss Tue, 06 Oct 2026 14:14:30 +0100 496211060b85fbd82fd5c5e784b34ede Gareth Lightfoot State Pension age could be cut to help young people get jobs – DWP must respond https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/26611469.dwp-retirement-age-reduction-proposal---government-respond/?ref=rss Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:39:20 +0100 27bedf768eaf734b7f4fa47258340389 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright Nigel Farage shares Reform UK cupcakes and tea with pensioners in visit to Redcar https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26609072.nigel-farage-shares-reform-cupcakes-tea-redcar-pensioners/?ref=rss Mon, 05 Oct 2026 16:36:00 +0100 599471daca9d34c34af3dd85339cedbe joshua.nichol@newsquest.co.uk | Joshua Nichol Reform UK can 'take control' of Darlington Borough Council says Robert Jenrick https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26608800.reform-uk-can-take-control-darlington-borough-council/?ref=rss Mon, 05 Oct 2026 15:44:16 +0100 6406c58debe34fe97983601f04cb12f8 joshua.nichol@newsquest.co.uk | Joshua Nichol Nigel Farage - What my Reform government would do in its first 100 days https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26604560.nigel-farage-sets-reform-uks-first-100-days-government/?ref=rss Mon, 05 Oct 2026 05:30:00 +0100 8f97fed65ec072855385240ef238b938 Nigel Farage Budget 2026: when is it and what is the Chancellor expected to announce? https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/26607945.budget-2026-john-healey-announce/?ref=rss Mon, 05 Oct 2026 13:28:43 +0100 5ae18935400d89ffb23d810b6f15cd93 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright Veterans' home targeted by vandals wins unanimous backing to remain openfrom council https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26604772.morgan-house-veterans-home-boosbeck-wins-council-backing/?ref=rss Sun, 04 Oct 2026 17:30:00 +0100 66358448c49e6ec69cca27393348f51e Gareth Lightfoot Scrapping migrant deal shows Government has ‘no real strategy’ https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26604428.government-criticised-uk-france-migrant-deal-scrapped/?ref=rss Sun, 04 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0100 35f487e175424dc9e8a7f82e8951e0a7 Reader's letter Labour takes two North East council seats back from Reform in double by-election win https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26605798.labour-wins-two-northumberland-council-seats-back-reform-uk/?ref=rss Sun, 04 Oct 2026 16:28:24 +0100 062618dd023e7a01975f0ca21f67ecbc james.robinson@reachplc.com | James Robinson Mayor says ‘dictator’ comparison by North Yorkshire councillor was ‘offensive’ https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26598781.mayor-strongly-rejects-dictator-comparison-councillor/?ref=rss Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:45:00 +0100 76c9b0660e24e7d5a91f131f5d7e7e51 joe.willis@newsquest.co.uk | Joe Willis House of Commons commendation for ground breaking Durham Prostate Cancer group https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26592705.durham-mp-recognises-trailblazing-work-prostate-support-group/?ref=rss Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:30:00 +0100 3a0348875d9344112467002c054a8b14 bruce.unwin@nne.co.uk | Bruce Unwin Burnham's passionate debut and enticing view of the future – but what about today? https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26592762.echo-comment-burnhams-passionate-debut-speech-labour-leader/?ref=rss Tue, 29 Sep 2026 19:30:00 +0100 ff935d0024f511dbe64ed79f55e32f35 Echo Comment Andy Burnham announces VAT cut on energy bills 'from this Thursday' in keynote speech https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/26591465.andy-burnham-announces-vat-cut-energy-bills-from-thursday/?ref=rss Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:33:43 +0100 d1a1c8c833ea5168eca9fe9b50807e40 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright Pensioners given major tax promise as Andy Burnham reveals new care plan https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26591847.andy-burnhams-hmrc-personal-allowance-promise-pensioners/?ref=rss Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:28:01 +0100 f554e864c9ef89c2f3b64d6d0dcfa98a jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright Andy Burnham announces plans to end pension triple lock to fund social care service https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26591826.pensions-triple-lock-end-fund-new-social-care-service/?ref=rss Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:23:56 +0100 34a3f7adc5fa291604249c91526a07c7 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright Pensioners given major tax promise as Andy Burnham reveals new care plan https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/26591603.andy-burnhams-hmrc-personal-allowance-promise-pensioners/?ref=rss Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:55:53 +0100 4c060575df9e1e7a6806c17a653c3b40 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright Andy Burnham announces plans to end pension triple lock to fund social care service https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/26591225.pensions-triple-lock-end-fund-new-social-care-service/?ref=rss Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:57:56 +0100 f9767106ca3bdb86969a2bd08f0631b3 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright Diesel hits 199.18p as Burnham’s upbeat first year faces reality https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26588984.echo-comment-ahead-burnhams-first-conference-speech-leader/?ref=rss Mon, 28 Sep 2026 17:27:01 +0100 25c6602a21f8e77dea660dcb2fd5c526 Echo Comment BBC Question Time to return to County Durham for first time in four years https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26585562.bbc-question-time-film-peterlee---involved/?ref=rss Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0100 8b67260dae9dc3962bfabe068cecb01e joshua.nichol@newsquest.co.uk | Joshua Nichol