James Wharton, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Stockton South, has criticised Labour’s budget for ignoring the Tees Valley in establishing new City Regions. Chancellor Alistair Darling announced two new City-Region pilot schemes for Leeds and Greater Manchester, which should bring increased investment and growth opportunities, but ignored the Tees Valley. James Wharton said: “The Tees Valley City-region proposal has been supported by businesses and local government across the area but the government have now dealt it a significant blow. “The Tees Valley needs investment and the freedom to pursue innovative ideas in order to strengthen and grow our local economy. Labour ignored those local needs. It is a missed opportunity. “The government should look again, as soon as possible, to protect jobs and strengthen our local economy; it was a mistake to ignore the needs of the Tees Valley in the budget.”
