Nick Clegg’s calling to North East voters

Apr 24 2010 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

NICK Clegg has called on North East voters to end Labour’s “birthright to rule” in the region.

The Liberal Democrat leader launched an attack on Labour when he arrived in Tyneside the morning after the latest televised debate.

Mr Clegg urged lifelong Labour voters in the region to do their bit to end “the two-party dominance”.

The party believes as many as six North East seats could be added to their tally as national opinion polls show the Libs riding high on Mr Clegg’s popularity.

Party insiders are secretly eyeing up Wansbeck and Blyth as “best case scenarios” alongside “likely” victories in Durham City and Newcastle North.

Newcastle East remains a key target, as do seats in Teesside.

Mr Clegg said: “I know how much people have been let down by Labour in Newcastle and the North East. For years Labour though it was their birthright to rule the North East in Westminster.

“That is wrong. Labour has let the North down. It does not belong to Labour, it belongs to those who live and work here. You don’t have to accept the same old promises. Do something different and help bring about that change.

“Voters here have been taken for granted, the region belongs to the people and families who have been promised so much and yet never had that delivered.”

The party leader went on to promise that despite the need for spending cuts, money would be found for A1 dualling.

He said: “We have been very clear we believe the A1 needs to be expanded, but what we have said is pouring more money into the motorway network is not a good idea. You need to provide money for schemes such as the A1 which is a good scheme but you need to do more to encourage people to use public transport”

Mr Clegg’s party has previously spoken openly of scrapping regeneration agency One North East, with Vince Cable including it in a list of un-needed quangos.

Catherine McKinnell, the Labour candidate for Newcastle North, said Mr Clegg should realise the Aviation Academy, he was visiting next to Newcastle Airport, was built with cash from the Government-supported development agency.

She added: “I’m delighted Nick Clegg has come to the North East to pay tribute to Labour’s achievements and in particular the Aviation Academy, a cutting- edge facility that has received £1.69m funding from One North East, the very Government agency Vince Cable called to be abolished.

“It is a shining example of Labour’s commitment to the North, alongside record investment in our schools, hospitals and our policing.”

Mr Clegg’s visit came as Gordon Brown urged voters not to put Britain’s “fragile“ economic recovery at risk by entrusting control to his “novice“ rivals.

Official figures showed the economy continued to grow in the first three months of the year, the Prime Minister claimed 1.7m more jobs would have been lost with the Tories in power.

The Conservatives said it was a “jobless recovery“ which would see unemployment rise if Labour’s increase in national insurance contributions went ahead.