Northumberland MPs accused of 'failing' county and urged to 'rattle cages' in Westminster

Conservative councillor Richard Wearmouth said the four Labour MPs elected last year were “failing” the county.

It comes as the Government refuses to commit to funding the rebuild of Berwick Academy, or improvements on two key roundabouts on the A19.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting of the council’s cabinet, Coun Wearmouth also referenced the scrapped project to dual 13 miles of the A1 in the county.

MPs have hit back at the deputy leader’s comments, with one accusing the Tories of also ‘failing’ the county and branding his attack as “sniping”.

Referencing the Government’s failure to provide sufficient funding for a food waste collection service, Coun Wearmouth said: “Unfortunately, there is a pattern emerging here.

“Our MPs are failing us. We have four Labour MPs in this county, but the problem happens across every bit of the North East.

“Berwick schools; waste recycling; dualling the A1 – money is being stripped away. Money has come into the region, but it hasn’t come to the long-established priorities of Northumberland.

“The MPs need to start rattling cages in Westminster. We are being failed consistently and we have to see a change.”

Responding to the comments, Cramlington and Killingworth MP Emma Foody said: “The Conservatives failed Northumberland and the country. At the local elections, despite being in opposition nationally, they lost seats – Northumberland simply does not trust them to deliver.

“Meanwhile, Labour is investing in breakfast clubs and expanding free school meals, delivering increased funding for Northumberland County Council, increasing support for Northumbria Police.

“Just last week we £1.8bn in North East Transport Investment and the Spending Review today (Wednesday) will finally change the Conservative government’s Green Book, which held back investment in our communities.

“It’s a shame Northumberland Conservatives don’t put the same energy into delivering for Northumberland as they do sniping at those who do.”

Having lost three parliamentary constituencies at the General Election last year, the Conservatives lost eight seats at the local election in May – but remained the largest party with 26 wards. Labour on the other hand saw a clean sweep at the General Election, but it lost 13 seats on the council when compared with the 2021 election, falling to just eight councillors.

Ashington and Blyth MP Ian Lavery said: “The idea that the Conservatives can claim to speak for Northumberland is frankly laughable. Voters made their feelings clear at the ballot box last summer – rejecting a party responsible for 14 years of national decline, crumbling infrastructure, rising poverty, and neglected communities.

“Northumberland has been held back for too long. But now, change is coming.

“Just this past week, we’ve seen meaningful action: thousands more young people guaranteed a hot, healthy school meal; new investment in our NHS, housing, education, transport, and clean energy.

“Rather than making baseless political attacks, the Conservatives at County Hall should focus on fixing the potholes, clearing the weeds, tackling the housing waiting lists, and addressing the SEND crisis they’ve allowed to spiral on their watch.”

Hexham MP Joe Morris added: “As a local MP, I am focused on delivering real change for people across my constituency, a part of our county that has long been neglected by its council.

“I know that after consecutive years of elections, residents here are tired of political point-scoring and so I am concentrating on finding practical solutions to the issues that run deep through our area, from securing investment in our local services to standing up for our schools, instead of playing the political blame game.”

North Northumberland MP David Smith declined to comment.