Gordon Brown pledges to boost North East economy
May 28 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
Low-key visit to Surestart centre
PRIME Minister Gordon Brown visited a Durham housing estate yesterday with the vast majority of residents unaware that he was in their midst.
The PM met children and staff at the SureStart centre based at Laurel Avenue, on the Sherburn Road Estate.
Apart from a set of No Parking traffic cones near the entrance to the centre, and some uniformed police on the gate, the visit was a low-key affair.
Neighbours said they had no idea he was on the estate.
Mr Brown was accompanied by Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, who opened the SureStart centre in December 2006. She said: "I am delighted that the PM was able to see this wonderful centre for himself.
"SureStart centres are a plank of Labour policy in trying to ensure that children get the best possible start in life." Dr Blackman-Woods’ Labour seat will be seen as a marginal in the next General Election.
She was elected with a majority of 3,274, but the rival Liberal Democrats ran the city council until it was abolished under local government re-organisation last month.
