LABOUR leader Ed Miliband and some of his front bench colleagues will visit the North East to meet hundreds of parents at a special conference this week.

Mr Miliband will host the consultation event, called Fresh Ideas, on Gateshead’ s Quayside this Friday, alongside Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls.

The Opposition leader sent scores of invitations to households in the region for the conference, which will encourage people to give their views on a wide range of issues. High profile guests, including television stars and politicians, are among those expected to attend. Shadow Cabinet ministers including Ed Balls, Meg Hillier, Yvette Cooper, Andy Burnham and Tessa Jowell, will be among the politicians holding seminars with guests.

Baroness Joan Bakewell and Emmerdale actor John Middleton, who plays the Reverend Ashley Thomas in the popular show, are scheduled to attend.

Actress Tracey Brabin, who has starred in both Coronation Street and Eastenders, is expected to attend as well.

Mr Miliband is hoping the event will enable him to understand the “concerns” and “hopes for the future” of families in the North East.

He will meet guests and discuss key issues including the current benefits system, coalition cuts and education.

In his letter inviting parents to the event, the Doncaster North MP wrote: “I stood to become leader of the Labour Party because I recognise Labour lost touch with the ordinary hard-working families we are in politics to represent and I want that to change. But I also know that the last government got some things wrong and I want to bring about change so that Labour can be an opposition that will stand up for those families who work hard and want to get on in life.”

The invitations were sent out to parents just days before Mr Miliband’s warning that low income families will be the hardest hit by the coalition’s newly implemented VAT hike.

He claims the 2.5% rise, which came into force at the beginning of this month, will see an average household paying almost £400 extra in tax every year.

In his letter, Mr Miliband adds: “I don’t disagree with everything the coalition are doing, and when it comes to things like sorting out our benefits system we will support their measures where they are right.

“But I do think that on some big issues they are not moving the country in the right direction.

“So, when it comes to jobs and support for businesses or issues like tuition fees, cuts to child tax credits and child benefit, I want Labour to be the voice of all Britain’s hard working families.”

A regional spokesman for the Labour Party said the visit follows on from a pledge made by the Opposition leader to listen to people’s concerns.

“When he was elected as Labour leader, Ed Miliband said he wanted to listen to the concerns and views of people from every region of the country,” the spokesman said.

“We look forward to welcoming Ed when he comes to the North East.”

The consultation will take place at The Sage, Gateshead, on Friday February 4, starting at 11.30am.

The seminars are expected to be brought to an end around 4pm.