Health Secretary Matt Hancock sat down for his first pint of 2021 after joining Ben Houchen on the campaign trail.

Mr Hancock and Mr Houchen sat down for a pint at The Rudds Arms in Marton, Middlesbrough.


Mr Hancock said having a Tees Valley mayor was making a big difference.

He said: “Having a Tees Valley Mayor has been a huge success story. You can see the investment that's coming into the area because of the work Ben Houchen has done so I'm absolutely open to working on what more could be devolved because I think it's been a success.

"What matters is delivering improved services on the ground and the more decisions that can be made locally, in my view, normally the better services you get. 

"We're reforming the way the NHS is run to make sure more decisions can be made more locally and that's one of the conversations I've had with Ben.

"I hope he's in for the next four years so we can keep working together."

He added: "For me levelling up health and life expectancy is the most important levelling up there is and we do see big health inequalities. Covid has shone a light on that.

"There's a lot of work to do to put that right. It's an exciting agenda and the Prime Minister cares deeply about it."

Mr Houchen added he would like to see devolution of health powers. He said: “I think it would add value to local people and I think it would help health outcomes, and economic outcomes as well.”