Prime Minister Rishi Sunak policies which benefit the North East

Less than 3 months ago support for Rishi Sunak was high at the Darlington hustings on the campaign trail. He outperformed Liz Truss on the night in terms of support and policy proposals but ultimately fell short in national vote among Tory members.

Now, the new prime minister will be expected to keep to his word on improvements and investment in the North East. 

The Northern Echo revisited his speech at Darlington Hippodrome to see what he pledged and how he will support the North East. 

Read more: Rishi Sunak to become new Prime Minister as he wins latest Tory leadership race

Pride in the North East 

Rishi Sunak (centre) with Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen and supporters during a visit to Teesside Freeport, Teesworks, in Redcar (Image: PA)

At the start of his speech, Mr Sunak paid tribute to the ‘extraordinary success’ of the Conservatives in the North East.

“We got Ben Houchen re-elected,” he told the audience. “We've got members of Parliament in Bishop Auckland, in Blyth, in Sedgefield, in Stockton, in Darlington, in Redcar. We got councillors everywhere and for the first time in 100 years, we kicked labour off Durham Council.”

Opportunities for everyone

"I passionately believe that the best way we reduce inequality, the best way that we spread opportunity, the best way that we transform people's lives is by ensuring that the birth right of every child is a world class education.

"And that's not just about schools. It's not even about university. It's about fantastic apprenticeships and technical education, including the brand new incredible technical institute we are putting right here in the North East."

‘Downing Street Campus in Darlington’

Former chancellor Rishi Sunak outside the Darlington Treasury campus (Image: The Northern Echo)

“I put the Treasury in Darlington because I wanted to send a loud message to Whitehall that there is more to the North than Manchester. If this works out, it won't just be called the Treasury campus in Darlington it will be the Downing Street Campus in Darlington."

‘Where the North East leads the rest of the country will follow’

“When I concluded my budget last year, I talked about the future economy that I wanted to build in the United Kingdom. And I talked about Teesside, I talked about what we were doing here. I talked about the jobs we were creating, the investment we were attracting, the innovation that was happening in vaccine manufacturing in the new renewable industries of the future.

“And I said I wanted to deliver that same energy and optimism that we are doing here across the United Kingdom. And if you give me the chance, that's exactly what I will do because where the North East leads the rest of the country will follow.”

Levelling Up

Billingham town centre is one of many North East areas in need of investment

Rishi Sunak arrived at the Darlington hustings in July with a huge reputation in the region already on his shoulders thanks to significant investments on Teesside, helping to launch the Freeport, and bringing the Treasury to Darlington.

One audience member asked Mr Sunak what the government’s phrase levelling up meant.

“I want everyone, no matter where they live in the UK, to feel that they have fantastic opportunity, and that they have pride in the place they call home,” Mr Sunak replied.

“What does it mean here? Well, we're delivering the opportunities but things like the freeport, which is attracting jobs and investment. That's an example of levelling up. But we're also wanting to make sure people have pride in the place they call home and that's why we're investing in the high streets, in town centres, in Eaglescliffe, in Yarm, in Stockton, so that people when they walk around, feel fantastic about the place that they live and feel that it is not neglected.”

North East transport improvements 

The A19 in Teesside has received several improvements

A woman questioned whether the then leadership hopeful would pledge to dual the A1 throughout the region.

He said: “I know it's something that's really important. It's something we've put in our manifesto, and it's something as Chancellor, I in theory signed off on the funding for but I know recently there's been some issue and the transport secretary is having another look at those plans. I'm not sure what the issue is. But as Prime Minister, I can certainly commit to you that I will go and figure out quickly what the situation is because I would like to see the A1 duelled. I travel on it a lot. I travel on the A19.

“Not only do we need to do that we need to figure out the Tees crossing as well. And those are the types of investments that will make a real difference to connectivity in the north. I will go and find out why that thing has been slowed down and get it back on track.”

Parmo’s in Parliament

Parmo and chips - a Teesside delicacy (Image: The Northern Echo)

If he became prime minister Rishi Sunak teased the possibility of cabinet members eating the Teesside delicacies off the Cabinet room table. Whether it was just a cheesy joke or not we’ll wait and see.

Mr Sunak said: “Thank you to Matt [Vickers] for all the support he's given me; he was my first agent when I was first elected member. You all know him as a fantastic campaigner because he's campaigned for more conservative councillors on Stockton Council. He's campaigned to get himself elected in Stockton South but what you don't know is that his most important campaign is to get the Parmo on the menu in Parliament.

“If this works out for me, we won't just do Parmo’s in Parliament. We'll be serving them off the Cabinet table in Downing Street.”

Read next: 

• Full list of North East MPs respond as Rishi Sunak becomes Prime Minister
• Rishi Sunak ranked among UK’s richest people: What is his net worth?
• Rishi Sunak's policies and what to expect from him as Prime Minister

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