Ben Houchen, serving as the first directly-elected Mayor of the Tees Valley since May 2017, represents a population of nearly 700,000 across five boroughs, Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees. As Chairman of the Tees Valley Combined Authority, he oversees a significant £500 million fund aimed at driving economic growth, with ambitious plans to create 25,000 new jobs by 2026.
Houchen's tenure saw the fulfillment of a key pledge to return Teesside Airport to public ownership to ensure its long-term future. A comprehensive 10-Year Rescue Plan was implemented, focusing on preventing closure, introducing new airlines and routes, boosting passenger numbers, creating jobs, and revitalizing the airport's facilities and services.
Under Houchen's leadership, the South Tees Development Corporation, the first Mayoral Development Corporation outside London, was established, marking a significant victory in acquiring the former SSI steelworks site for redevelopment. Named Teesworks, this initiative represents a major investment opportunity aimed at attracting international investors and significantly boosting the regional economy through job creation and sustainable industrial development.
In 2021, Teesside was designated as the site for the UK's largest freeport, a move spearheaded by Houchen over three years. The Teesside Freeport aims to create thousands of jobs and attract significant investment, enhancing the economic landscape of Teesside, Darlington, and Hartlepool.
Also in 2021, the Chancellor announced the relocation of Treasury North to Teesside, following Houchen's campaign. This development promises to create hundreds of local jobs and place regional priorities at the forefront of government policy.
Houchen has secured substantial funding for transport improvements across the Tees Valley, including station redevelopment, road improvements, and the establishment of a Hydrogen Transport Hub, reinforcing the region's commitment to sustainable transport solutions.
Since 2017, Houchen's efforts have resulted in a significant influx of government funding into the Tees Valley, supporting a wide range of initiatives from industrial site remediation to local transport connectivity, housing, and cultural events.
The Tees Valley investment plan under Houchen's leadership focuses on infrastructure, education, and business support, aiming to foster a high-growth, high-wage economy.
Houchen's administration has actively supported the business community, providing financial aid, fostering investment, and creating jobs, with a strong emphasis on private sector engagement.
Recognizing the need for local talent development, Houchen has invested in education, apprenticeships, and job support schemes, aiming to align local skills with job market demands. Ben Houchen's tenure as Mayor of the Tees Valley is characterized by a focus on economic revitalization, infrastructural development, and community investment, with significant achievements in public ownership, job creation, and regional growth.
The Conservative Party, known formally as the Conservative and Unionist Party and colloquially as the Tories, is one of the two primary political parties in the United Kingdom, rivaling the Labour Party. Established in 1834 from the older Tory Party, it has been a central figure in British politics, particularly since the 1920s when the Labour Party rose as its main competitor.
The party positions itself on the right-wing to centre-right of the political spectrum and includes various ideological factions such as one-nation conservatives, Thatcherites, and traditionalist conservatives. It has been the dominant governing party in the UK since 2010 and holds an annual conference to promote its policies.
The Conservative Party played a significant role during the British Empire's peak under leaders like Benjamin Disraeli. Its formation into the Conservative and Unionist Party occurred in 1912 after merging with the Liberal Unionist Party.
Over the decades, the Conservatives have shifted from protectionist economic policies to advocating for free markets, including deregulation and privatisation, especially notable since the 1980s. The party strongly supports the British union and has historically opposed Scottish and Welsh independence and a united Ireland.
Since the 1980s, the Conservative Party has championed liberal economic policies that emphasize free markets as the engine of economic prosperity. They have been skeptical of the European single currency, maintaining a stance against adopting the euro, a position solidified under the leadership of John Major and subsequent party leaders.
Notably, the party initiated austerity measures in 2010, which were somewhat relaxed in 2019 under Boris Johnson, who pledged increased public spending.
The Conservative Party's approach to social issues has evolved from a traditionally conservative outlook to adopting more liberal stances, including the support for same-sex marriage rights in 2010. However, the party still faces internal divisions between modernisers, who advocate for progressive policies, and traditionalists, who hold to conservative principles.
The Conservative Party has maintained a strong Atlanticist stance in its foreign policy, particularly valuing the 'Special Relationship' with the United States. It supports a robust defence policy including the maintenance of the UK’s nuclear deterrent through the Trident program and advocating for strong ties within NATO.
The party has historically supported interventions abroad, including the military action in Afghanistan post-9/11.
Traditionally, the Conservative Party has drawn significant support from homeowners, business owners, and rural constituents in England. However, post the 2016 EU referendum, the party has increasingly appealed to working-class voters from former Labour strongholds.
This shift reflects the evolving political landscape in the UK, where Brexit and social policies continue to shape electoral dynamics. The party's recent stance on immigration and multiculturalism has been complex, advocating for controlled immigration while facing challenges related to the integration of immigrants into British society.
These issues, alongside economic and social policies, continue to define the Conservative Party's role and strategies in modern British politics. The Conservative Party's policies encompass a broad spectrum of economic, social, foreign, and defense-related issues, reflecting its historical roots and its adaptation to contemporary political dynamics.
Below is a more detailed look into their key policy areas.
The Conservative Party has consistently advocated for free-market policies, emphasizing privatization, marketization, and deregulation. These policies have been aimed at fostering economic growth and enterprise, although at times, such as under the Cameron-Clegg coalition, this approach has included moderate austerity measures to address the budget deficit.
A hallmark of recent Conservative policy has been the reduction of income tax rates, aiming to stimulate economic growth. For example, the top rate of income tax was reduced from 50% to 45% under David Cameron.
The party advocates keeping taxes low as a principle of economic management.
Initiated in 2010, the austerity program aimed to reduce public debt by cutting government spending. However, by 2019, in response to growing public discontent, Boris Johnson promised an end to austerity, pledging increased spending on public services like the NHS, police, and education.
The Conservative Party's stance on social issues has shifted significantly over the years. While traditionally socially conservative, the party has adopted more liberal social policies in recent years, including support for same-sex marriage in 2013.
However, the party also contains factions that maintain more traditional conservative views on family and societal structure.
The Conservatives have implemented stricter immigration controls and have been critical of uncontrolled immigration, citing impacts on public services and social cohesion. Policies have included caps on non-EU immigration and pushing for the end of free movement within the EU post-Brexit.
The party strongly values the UK's 'Special Relationship' with the United States, emphasizing close diplomatic and military cooperation. This relationship has been especially prominent during the tenures of conservative leaders who align politically with U.S.
administrations.
The Conservatives are staunch supporters of NATO and have committed to meeting the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defense. The party supports maintaining the UK's nuclear deterrent, which is seen as crucial to national security.
Conservative policy on Europe has varied significantly, with the party moving from a pro-European stance in the early decades to a more Eurosceptic position in recent years, culminating in the Brexit campaign. The party has advocated for maintaining strong trade and security relationships with European nations post-Brexit.
The Conservatives have pledged to conduct regular SDSRs to align national defense and security strategies with current global threats and to ensure efficient spending on defense.
A key aspect of Conservative defense policy has been the reform of the defense procurement process to ensure timely delivery of the best possible equipment to the armed forces, while also supporting the domestic defense industry and exports.
Historically, the party has been cautious about extensive constitutional reforms. However, it has engaged in significant reforms such as the devolution of powers to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Post-Brexit, there has been talk within the party of further constitutional review to balance the relationship between the government, parliament, and the courts. These policies reflect the Conservative Party's attempt to balance traditional conservative principles with the demands of a changing political and economic landscape in the UK and globally.