Columnists: Ben Houchen
SSIgning the steelworks deal is the start of our new future
4:58pm Sunday 23rd February 2020
THIS month marks a milestone in my term as Tees Valley Mayor, and indeed in the whole history of devolution in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool. After years of often bitter negotiations, we have struck a deal with SSI to take control of the former Redcar steelworks and bring it into local ownership.
Ben Houchen: New flights are vote of confidence in our airport and region
5:00am Monday 27th January 2020
TWELVE months on from the moment I rescued Teesside Airport and saved it from closure, we have just had the most significant announcement yet. In just a matter of weeks, people will be able to fly from Teesside to London City, Dublin, Belfast, Cardiff, Southampton and a revised Aberdeen service, along with a route to the Isle of Man in the summer. This will mean nearly 200,000 extra passengers a year going through our airport.
Creating the links for life
2:30pm Friday 25th October 2019
SINCE day one in my role as Tees Valley Mayor, I have pledged to back the brilliant businesses that call our region their home.
Ben Houchen: My deep sadness at SSI loss of life
5:19am Monday 30th September 2019
TODAY’S column is the hardest I have ever had to write. It follows what has been the toughest week in the careers of many of my colleagues, and one which no one should ever have to experience again.
Transporting the next generation to a thriving future
11:11am Friday 30th August 2019
AUGUST is a month of exam results: less than a fortnight ago, young people across the Tees Valley received their GCSE results, and the week before that, many more got news of how well they did in their A Levels.
Ben Houchen: why a freeport is our gateway to future prosperity
2:26pm Friday 2nd August 2019
YOU probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you there was a simple idea that could create thousands of jobs right here in the Tees Valley. You definitely wouldn’t believe me if I told you the idea was just for government to get out of the way.
Mayor pledges to keep it local
5:00am Monday 24th June 2019
ABOVE everything else, the job of the Tees Valley Mayor is to grow our economy and make people throughout the region better off. This is why I brought our airport back into public ownership, it is why I am working to help businesses grow and create jobs, and it is why I am investing in transport.
Ben Houchen: Saving steel – a foundation of our region
10:26am Friday 24th May 2019
STEELMAKING, along with other giants like the railways and chemicals, is one of the foundations our region was built on. It is a part of our history, but not something we should give up on now.
Ben Houchen: Voters bring positive changes
5:00am Monday 6th May 2019
ACROSS the Tees Valley, I’m delighted to say that the people have well and truly voted for real, positive change across the region.
Ben Houchen: Preparing our airport for take-off
4:34pm Sunday 31st March 2019
LAST year we reached a deal with Peel to take our local airport back into public ownership. Earlier this year we got the agreement of the five Labour leaders of our local authorities to do this. This month we officially got hold of the keys and appointed an experienced operator to run the airport on our behalf.
Ben Houchen: We are a small region that is thinking big
4:40pm Friday 1st February 2019
THE last few weeks have been pretty monumental for the Tees Valley. We saved our airport, but I wouldn’t want it to overshadow some other good news.
Ben Houchen: '2019 promises to be a make or break year for our area'
5:00am Sunday 30th December 2018
"2019 promises to be a make or break year for our area. As we look to a positive future outside the European Union, the Tees Valley won’t just be competing with Newcastle, Leeds or Birmingham. Our success depends on our ability to work, trade and collaborate with old friends and new allies around the world.
Ben Houchen: Building on the shoulders of giants
5:50am Monday 26th November 2018
WHEN our transport system works well you might barely notice it, but when it doesn’t meet the public’s expectations it can quickly become a make or break issue for politicians.
Ben Houchen: getting the post-Brexit boost in funding out to the regions
6:22am Monday 29th October 2018
TODAY’S Budget is hugely significant, as it will be the last time it is delivered while the UK is still part of the European Union.
Ben Houchen: Take That shows region is on the rise
5:04pm Sunday 23rd September 2018
A FEW weeks ago, TransPennine Express (quietly) put forward a proposal that would've seen a swathe of train cancellations across the Tees Valley, just so it could ease congestion in Manchester and the North West!
Ben Houchen: Ours is a region that is on the up
2:58pm Friday 31st August 2018
ACROSS the Tees Valley, our economy is on the up. Over the past year, almost 1,000 new companies have started up, exports are up six per cent, advertised salaries are up five per cent, our A-Level results are the best in the country, and unemployment has fallen to its lowest level in history.
Ben Houchen: New branch for railway revolution
5:51am Monday 30th July 2018
LET’S bring train-building back home.
Ben Houchen: Breaking free from EU bonds
2:41pm Friday 22nd June 2018
WHILE Westminster politicians were at each other’s throats over the EU Withdrawal Bill last week, I was also in London making sure our voice was heard in the Brexit negotiations.
Ben Houchen: Green shoots are sprouting from devolution
5:02am Monday 28th May 2018
ONE year ago this month, I had the honour of being elected Tees Valley Mayor, representing the area I have always been proud to call home.
Ben Houchen: Trying to bring rugby home to the region
3:16am Sunday 29th April 2018
IN the past few months, I have been working hard to get all eyes on the Tees Valley, shouting about the brilliant things our region has to offer.
Monthly column from Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen.
Hannah Chapman
Opinion on the issues of the week by The Northern Echo's editor.
Chris Lloyd
Chris Lloyd on a quest to understand today’s world.
Peter Barron
Weekly columns from The Northern Echo's former editor.
Ben Houchen
Monthly column from Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen.
