The North East Party was founded in May 2014. We are a progressive, democratic political party which is building from the grass roots in , we are one of many regional parties developing across the UK and the world. We contest elections at all levels. In 2017 we won the majority of seats on Peterlee Town Council and three seats on . We have a monthly all members meeting, a monthly executive and an Annual General Meeting. Everybody who shares our commitment to North East England is very welcome to join. Help us build the North East Party & let’s change North East England for the better, for all its people.

Mary Cartwright Leader of The North East Party and Mayor of Peterlee

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Everybody matters, everybody is local level that is consistent with their important. resolution. That’s why we support Devolution. Everybody is entitled to accurate information, to be able to participate, Political Parties can bring people to have the chance to vote and the together to campaign coherently and opportunity to have their say. democratically in pursuit of common policies. However, we support Everybody should have a fair share of independent thought, value the world’s resources and an equal conscience and always promote opportunity to make what they will of accountability to people over Party. their lives without harming others. We enjoy and seek out opportunities We don’t expect the people of North for debate. We listen to others and will East England to be treated any better work together respectfully & openly than people anywhere else, but we with others at every opportunity. will never accept that they are treated any worse. We will always We will always campaign with stand up for the best for North East respect, warmth and a sense of people and our region. humour. We encourage people to be Democratic politics is really important ambitious for themselves for their because it’s how ordinary people, families and communities. We refuse people like us, can change the world. to accept that ‘things will always be Politics is about giving people a this way’ or ‘nothing can be done.’ proper say in the big issues, so that we We support local people in can all have better lives. Politics is demanding ever better standards simple and exciting. Those telling us where they live. otherwise are just trying to keep us in our place. We believe in the principle of subsidiarity, that social and political We campaign for change. issues should be dealt with at the most

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We want a fair share of the prosperity of the United Kingdom, nothing more or less than that enjoyed by people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This would produce an annual bounty for our region; compounded by savings from integrating public services at regional level and running them much better, with improved quality and greater value for money.

One strong voice for the region a Land Value Tax of £100 per annum on every acre of England and of 0.5% We campaign for democratic on the value of every home. devolution agreed by a majority of Collected nationally and re-distributed North East people voting in a to each region on a per capita basis referendum. We want a 51 member this would return an extra £1.5 billion Regional Government, elected by per annum to be used to benefit proportional representation with the people in North East England and to resources and devolved powers of free people and business from other major government departments. All forms of taxation. the relevant policies of Education, Health and Social Care, Employment, World class public services for every Economic Development, Housing, community Transport, Planning, Energy will be We would replace all twelve local decided here, in North East England, authorities and unaccountable NHS by elected people . boards with a network of directly A fair share of resources elected Community Councils equipped with the Select Committee We seek the abolition of the unfair powers to hold local public officials Council Tax. We would replace it with

4 accountable for the delivery of world We support colleagues from the class, excellent services in every devolved governments of Scotland & community. Wales in advocating that all EU powers in respect of devolved UK Democracy functions should be returned to them We would improve Parliament by rather than Westminster. We demand freeing it up to concentrate on the same rights & resources for the ‘reserved powers’ in respect of macro- people of North East England as those economics, reducing taxation, foreign enjoyed by our fellow U.K. citizens in policy, defence, Immigration and Scotland & Wales: international development. We would Resources previously expended in seek to replace the Europe should be devolved on a per with a modern revising chamber with capita basis to North East England elected representatives of every and other regions. country and region of the UK. Grants previously obtainable from More power & opportunity for North Europe should be transparently East England under Brexit included in a properly resourced The North East Party supported the devolution settlement for North East principle of holding a referendum on England. EU membership in our first manifesto The powers liberated from Europe in ahead of the General Election in 2015. respect of transport, environment, As a democratic Party we thoroughly farming, fishing etc should be returned respect the result of the Referendum to an elected North East Regional and seek the implementation of Brexit Government rather than being in the best interests of North East withheld by Westminster. England and the U.K. as a whole.

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We want a fair share of prosperity and equal, world class, opportunities for all North East people. We want to live in an enterprising region that makes a positive contribution in the UK and globally.

A Regional Investment Bank and attracting and retaining able people Credit Union who are committed to building a We will create a powerful source of prosperous and sustainable North East finance for business and a vehicle for of England. savings and affordable loans open to An Energy Powerhouse everyone. The North East Party supports A Business Enabling Team development in all forms of energy generation which contribute to the We will commission a Business Enabling quality of North East life, are safe, Team from the private sector and clean and carbon minimising as challenge and licence it to jump-start possible and provide quality jobs. The new economic initiatives. The priority North East Party sees no need for must be to boost employment and ‘fracking’ when the world will continue business growth in targeted sectors to need coal, when there is still a with financial breaks as well as tailored national and international market for advice and mentoring in order to our coal reserves and when support enterprise. There will be a technological developments can relentless focus on science and increasingly reduce the impact of technology and the creation of new coal burning upon the environment. businesses, exploiting the region’s We would revive the coal industry in strong Higher Education base and North East England.

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Too often, the London media casts the North East in a bad light. We are proud of our cities, towns and rural communities - and we want to make them the safest places to grow up and live in the UK.

Neighbourhood Local Plans to reduce drug dependency and deaths from overdoses. We would Driven by local people based upon make cannabis available for pain their own priorities for their own relief on prescription. Over time we will communities, with their own budgets promote a debate about the to help them on their way. Instead of legalisation of all drugs in the same making everywhere look like way as tobacco and alcohol, everywhere else we can encourage removing many criminal opportunities distinction and difference. at a stroke and raising money to treat North East Armed Forces Covenant the victims of drug use from taxation. We are very proud of North East We will dramatically improve Road people who have served in the Armed Safety Forces of the United Kingdom for so Target Zero’ is a continuous safety long and with such courage and initiative for the North East Region. An distinction. We will enact a North East information and statistics driven system Armed Forces Covenant to enable all with a goal of Zero Accidents it would retiring members to build successful seek to create shared spaces the lives and careers in civilian life. No-one envy of the world with speed limits on who has served will go unheeded. residential streets reduced to 20mph. A new approach to tackling Crime We will embed a Safer Schools and Building upon the pioneering work of Neighbourhoods policy the Chief Constable of Durham Police Actively combatting discrimination on and a successful approach to drug the grounds of gender, sexuality, race, abuse in Portugal instead of religion and differing ability. criminalising drug users we will refer Countering bullying and encouraging them to a drug treatment young people to discover and define programme. We will make drug their own identity in their own way and addiction a public health issue rather own time. than a criminal matter allowing the police to focus on the criminals who supply illegal drugs and we will seek

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All North East people are entitled to integrated public services that offer everyone the opportunity to make the very best of their lives.

Empowering People A North East Work Training Programme What if we empowered young people A new approach to training young to help run their own care services people for real jobs in the real world of and schools ? If older people and their work. Where attitudes to punctuality, families were put in charge of team work, the acquisition of basic residential care and day-care and practical skills, high levels of literacy home- care perhaps we’d break and numeracy are critical and where down barriers and create services that lifelong learning is the order of the people really need ? Why don’t we day. Where we train young people welcome new people coming to our communities, open our arms to people coming to North East England to learn, to work, to seek refuge from violence and oppression across the world and encourage them to use their skills and build commitment and friendship within their new communities? not for obsolescence doing the things Education for life that machines will increasingly be able to do, but for critical roles in science, We will raise awareness of the technology, engineering, in making importance of good mental health for and developing and fixing things, in children, young people and adults : nursing, social work, community through mental health studies in development, computing, and new school curricula, teaching life skills in creative approaches to leisure, schools, running a home, shopping on recreation, tourism, healthy lifestyles a budget, much greater awareness of and sharing skills. the services and support available to promote good mental health and well-being.

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The North East initiated a transport revolution in the 19th Century and transport is the key to our revival in the 21st. We refuse to hang on the coat tails of a Northern Transport Policy focussed on Leeds- Manchester and will develop our own solutions here.

Integrating our Regional Economy new mainline services for Sunderland, We will establish a North East Transport and Stockton. Authority with a ‘smart card’ We will also link Tyneside, Wearside technology operating across a simple, and Teesside with a new high speed affordable and integrated public passenger service via the Stillington transport system. Line, the Blyth and Tyne line, Tees We will introduce free public transport Valley Metro and rural lines from for all young people under 25 in work, Northumberland into Cumbria and off training or education. the East Coast Main Line. Extending the Metro using existing lines to We will abolish air Passenger Duty for Hendon, Grangetown and Ryhope. North East airports. Driving Export Growth On the roads, our priorities will be We will invest in effective rail freight dualling the A1, A69 and A66 and and road links to Teesport. The ports of building a new Tees Road Crossing Blyth, Newcastle/North Shields, east of Middlesbrough. Seaham, Sunderland and Hartlepool Key Railway Investment will be assisted to develop coastal We will demand the extension of HS2 and North Sea/Baltic links. to Edinburgh, rather than making do with a link to Leeds. We will call for

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It’s sometimes hard to believe The North East Party was only formed four years ago, particularly when you consider what the party has achieved in such a short space of time – certainly in political terms.

Yes, we’ve had some bumps along Fast forward to the local elections of the way and we’ve made a number May 2017. We ignored the continued of mistakes, from which we have apathy, rolled up our sleeves and with learned valuable lessons but credit a lot of continued hard work, dogged where credit is due. Despite Peterlee determination and at times, sheer Town Council being under Labour bloody mindedness; we won one seat control for over forty years, since mid- at Shotton Parish Council, two seats at 2015, The North East Party has been Horden Parish Council and we not the dominant party in the council only won control of Peterlee Town chamber at Peterlee and the words Council, taking almost all of the 22 “This is a Labour area and a Labour seats; we also took three of the five Council and there’s nowt you lot can County Council seats – something do about it” fade into the distant past! even we were surprised at! But the achievements of The North Still, no time to sit on our laurels, as on East Party in Peterlee were not high on April 18th – two weeks prior to the the political radar for 2015 because of Durham County local elections, the general election that year. Even Theresa May called a snap general so, The North East Party candidate for election for June 8th. And the decision Easington, Susan McDonnell, who was was taken by the party to stand one one of four candidates standing for candidate from the Easington Branch, The North East Party, still attracted Susan McDonnell. attention from Tyne Tees Television; Thanks need to be recorded to both who followed her through the election Seaham Community Party and The campaign as ‘the underdog’. That Haswells Community Party, who on said following the election, with only hearing about the general election, 833 votes and a lost deposit, Susan immediately offered their support in and the North East Party had four leaflet distribution and campaigning minutes TV news coverage after the for Susan in their respective areas, election, which was more than any which are within the Easington MP in the area who won. Constituency boundary.

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Although she didn’t win, we took the In Peterlee, however, it’s a slightly results as a form of victory for The different story:- North East Party:- • Council Tax – we continue to reverse • 3,304 candidates stood for the 2017 a five year labour high of 34% increase election in the town council precept and now see a 0% real term reduction for three • Only 1,736 retained their deposits, years in a row. In other words, as soon Susan was one of them with over 2,300 as The North East Party was the votes dominant party at Peterlee we • She was third from a six candidate stopped the town council increasing list: beating UKIP, Lib Dems and the council tax bills for the people of Greens. the town. • The North East Party is the driving force behind efficiency and savings for Peterlee Town Council. No longer a rubber stamping exercise under the previous labour control; the members of The North East Party scrutinise spend across all areas of the council to ensure that best value is not only achieved but can be demonstrated to the people of Peterlee. • A restructure of the council, one of the largest town council in terms of precept, turnover and staff numbers will finally conclude in 2018 (previously stalled/obstructed in 2014/15 under labour control). This will see the So what have we been up to since performance and capability of then:- Peterlee Town Council improve to ultimately demonstrate best value to Recognising that while we are the the tax payers of Peterlee. opposition at both Horden and Shotton Parish councils, we support • The members initiative funding is our members in those parishes now distributed fairly across the town wherever and whenever we can, with ALL members having an equal while continuing to being frustrated contribution to make to their local with the lack of democracy and community. transparency.

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• The Peterlee Show 2017 - Despite reservations about some of the changes that were made to the format, the 2017 Peterlee Show was hailed as ‘the best yet’ and 2018 will be seeing at least one ‘first’ for the town show yet - still under wraps at the moment! •Fireworks – after The North East Party re-instated them in 2016, this year, following noise complaints from across the town, The North east Party have agreed to hold this year’s display using ‘reduced noise’ fireworks. This is a controversial decision but it is a good demonstration that we listen to the people we represent. Further views and opinions will be sought following • We approved additional funding to the event to establish if it will continue the Citizens Advice Bureau who with the quieter format. urgently needed more resources to cope with supporting residents in the • Fake Festival – May 2017 saw the first area. This funding means that the ever Fake Festival being brought to centre is now open 5 days a week Peterlee. Undoubtedly a resounding instead of 3. success with volunteers from the council staff and North East Party • The formation of an active events members helping to run the event – committee within the town council which will be even bigger and better has seen a number of events for 2018! significantly improve in terms of participation and feedback. We • Fun Days – now with more ‘fun days’ pride ourselves as a ‘can do’ council than ever before, utilising the parks who are always looking for and town council facilities to provide opportunities to bring events and either free or low cost activities for activities to the town for the benefit of children and young people across the the people we represent. We accept town. that there may be times when we get • Oktoberfest 2017 – Another first for it wrong but move forward into 2018 Peterlee Town Council which certainly having achieved a tremendous won’t be the last. Tickets were sold amount that was ‘right’. out well in advance of the event with

12 people taking to social media asking past, the North East Party members for spare tickets right up until it started. have finally got the go ahead and identified funding to provide the • Armed Forces Day – This has been a allotment holders at Thorntree Gill with longstanding day for the Town Council a brick building which is secure and to show respect and gratitude to the dry and which will enable them to brave servicemen and women who maintain and grow their membership. have defended our country, many of whom having paid the ultimate price • Sports groups – Now, more than ever with their lives. Now, with more (certainly within the last few decades), contributions, support and planning Peterlee Town Council engages with for the event than for many years sports groups of all ages in helping to before, it is a tremendous and fitting promote their sporting activities and celebration of our war heroes, past providing them with top class facilities and present. to do so. • Community Cinema – dare we say, There is so much more that our yet another first for Peterlee Town councillors and members do and Council! The Community Cinema, have done. North East Party Members based at The Pavilion in Helford Road in Peterlee have introduced ‘Cuppa Peterlee will be a low-cost alternative with a Copper and a Councillor’, we to the people of the town and in have started doing a ‘speed watch’ particular families with children, to the at all school sites in Peterlee and, mainstream (pricey) cinemas. The above all, we just get on with doing logistics of making this happen the job! shouldn’t be underestimated and we BUT remember; The North East Party know it will be a most welcome was formed in 2014 – think about how activity in the town. We also hope that much more we can do in the next four having a big screen at The Pavilion will years!!! also enable the council to host groups for the big sporting events for the many sports enthusiasts who use The Pavilion as their base and for the townsfolk in general. • A new Allotment building! – The town council provides allotments on two sites in the town, although it’s fairly safe to say, that the site at Thorntree Gill has been the poor relation of the two. Without going in to too much detail on what has happened in the

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ward every four years. We will strengthen Councillor credibility, accountability and save money. We will actively promote public participation in the redevelopment of Hendon, putting the community firmly in charge of the modernisation of parks and open spaces, radically improving access and amenity on the sea front. We will consult on the creation of a public stage for Hendon beachfront creating the possibility of concerts, brass band competitions and a whole host of attractive events. We will aim to extend and strengthen Metro links extending the Metro using

existing lines to Hendon, Grangetown Standing in Sunderland in May 2018 and Ryhope as set out above. we will challenge the incompetence and inertia of a Labour Party which The neglect of Children’s Services and has mis-ruled Sunderland for far too the subsequent takeover by long. Government have brought shame upon the City. We will strengthen the We will promote good value for direct involvement of children and money across all public services and young people in Care in the new open everything up to public scrutiny, services which should be the centre- consultation and accountability. piece of Sunderland’s approach to We will seek the wholesale reduction Sunderland’s children and of Councillor posts across the board, Sunderland’s future. with one Councillor elected in each

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