Fantastic to see the Boro faithful at Wembley. Incredible achievement by Boro to get the full allocation issued in record time. #UTB

On Teesside, iron and steel built towns, livelihoods and identities from the early 19th century onwards. As Chris Rea said - the ships and bridges, they were all delivered from Sydney Harbour to the 'Cisco Bay. We know public ownership of steel is just common sense. 👇

Andy's right. The draining away of economic, social and political power through deindustrialisation and deregulation left people with a sense of injustice. To put all of that right and truly benefit and empower our communities, we need a fundamental reset. x.com/AndyBurnhamG...

Today is the 78th anniversary of the Nakba. In 1948, over three-quarters of a million Palestinians were forced from their homes. We commemorate that and commit to continue campaigning for justice for the Palestinians.

Today is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day. We need a national spinal cord injury strategy to replace the current fragmented approach. Coordinated, person-centred care with specialised spinal cord injury commissioning under national oversight. #sciad #spinalcordinjury

It was a true honour to be at Middlesbrough Town Hall for the posthumous awarding of the Freedom of the Borough to Alan Peacock. Alan was a Boro legend, a tireless dementia campaigner and a wonderful man.

The cost-of-living crisis is what this King’s Speech should have confronted far more directly. Labour will only rebuild support if people can see their lives materially improving. morningstaronline.co.uk/article/king...

On BBC Tees today I was asked about Boro's chances in the play-offs and "Spygate". What Southampton did was outrageous and if they think they are going to get away with that then I'm afraid they've got another thing coming.

We've crossed the watershed with Sir Keir Starmer. I spoke to BBC Tees about this. The time has come for us to have an orderly transition to a new leader, somebody who can connect and relate to the British public and deliver that radical programme of change that people wanted."

It was a real privilege to be at the Riverside Stadium to see Thornaby FC Women win the North Riding County Cup. This is a brilliant end to another wonderful season for all of Thornaby's teams but the women do keep writing more and more chapters to their amazing story.

A leadership contest that avoids the underlying argument about policy, economics and living standards would solve nothing. The question is not simply who leads Labour, but what Labour is for. - my thoughts in @labouroutlook.bsky.social labouroutlook.org/2026/05/09/e...

These results are disastrous for Labour. Voters are rejecting the party’s offer. Timid triangulation will not do in a cost-of-living crisis. We need a change of leader tied to change of policy - for a radical economic vision, with better incomes and higher living standards.

No local elections in Middlesbrough and Thornaby East today so it was a pleasure to join excellent local Labour candidates in Hartlepool. The Labour council leadership in Hartlepool is delivering real results for the town with millions of pounds of investment. #votelabour

Today we mark International Workers' Day. It is a day to appreciate the contributions of working people to society as a whole, and a reminder of the workers and union leaders who sacrificed so much to improve working conditions for all and inspired others to do the same.

I have signed a letter to Govt asking that financial redress for state pension injustice 1950s women face forms part of the King's Speech. Thanks to my colleague Rebecca Long Bailey for initiating it. The Govt must take the opportunity to right the wrong of refusing that redress.

Wonderful event at Middlesbrough Town Hall last night to mark the return of Smoggie Queens to the BBC. The first series was a real love letter to Teesside and a brilliant advert for our area and our sense of humour. Watch this space for series two!

The appointment of Peter Mandelson was wholly and utterly unsuitable. Nonetheless, the PM has set out a detailed chronology, and made it clear he has not misled this House. It would be the right thing to do to embrace this Privilege process.

Today we mark International Workers' Memorial Day and those who have lost their lives at work. A privilege to hear friends and family of headteacher Ruth Perry, rail worker Jorge Ortega, and firefighter Jeff Simpson. So much more we still need to do to make work safe. #IWMD

When we were in the Shadow Cabinet together, I said to the Prime Minister about Mandelson: "Distance yourself from this fellow. Don't touch him with a barge pole. He's toxic."  It's not really good enough to blame the process. This is about judgment.

This week I'm supporting Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. MS is unpredictable and affects everyone differently. The theme is challenging MS assumptions and the impact these misconceptions can have. Living with MS is tough. No two days are the same, and many symptoms are invisible. #MSThinkAgain

The govt is taking action to protect British manufacturing through help with their energy bills - good news for the chemicals industry on Teesside. ✅Acting to get energy costs down ✅Backing British Industry ✅Protecting good jobs www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I'm extremely concerned about potential NHS staff cuts locally and their impact. At South Tees Trust, it is wasteful PFI costs driving deficits. I’m speaking with Chief Exec and unions, and will raise concerns with the Health Sec to protect services. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Today I urged Ministers to go further and faster on delivering a single status of worker. It was at the heart of the New Deal for Working People. If you work for someone else, you should enjoy the full range of employment rights.

🚨 NEW: Joint Statement from National TULO on the right to strike. labourunions.org.uk/right-to-str...

Protest is not some inconvenience to be managed. It is part of the lifeblood of the labour movement, and of every movement that has ever expanded rights, protections or dignity in this country. From my speech on the Crime & Policing Bill.

I have tabled a motion to the Crime and Policing Bill to reject the govts new 'cumulative disruption' protest-curbing powers. The Conservatives tried and failed to establish these powers in 2023. Labour shouldn't be seeking to do the same.

Trump's reckless willingness to talk in such terms of the death of a whole civilisation, as with his reference to the Stone Age, must be understood as a threat to civilians and civilians infrastructure. He must step back from the brink - and be told to do so by UK govt.

'Antipodea lost 21 claims at the employment tribunal. We understand the company hasn’t paid any of the sums ordered by those tribunals' @mellino.bsky.social reports how a restaurant chain lost 21 tribunal claims – and not paid a single one www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...

Stronger Employment Rights need real enforcement to mean anything. The new Fair Work Agency launches today to do just that. ✊

It is incongruous and offensive to charge constituents for the opportunity to speak to their MP. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Minimum wage rates go up this week, giving a pay rise to 2.7 million people. This is good news for working people – now let’s get on and deliver the New Deal for Working People in full. 🌹 #costofliving

Minimum wage rates go up this week, giving a pay rise to 2.7 million people. This is good news for working people – now let’s get on and deliver the New Deal for Working People in full. 🌹 #costofliving

Low import tariffs have made the Teesside Freeport’s Private Customs Zone effectively redundant. Who knew? 🤔 And surprise, surprise: Mandelsonian disclosures from within the South Tees Development Corporation—raising fresh governance questions. 😱

The govt condemning Israel's death penalty law is welcome but this requires robust action. The bill is further evidence of the potential crime of apartheid. The UK should sanction those who have supported this bill and suspend the trade agreement with Israel.

Great news that a new secondary school for children with special educational needs and disabilities will be built in Middlesbrough. More info here 👇 www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/latest-news/...

I very much welcome the Home Secretary’s announcement of the inquiry into Orgreave. There were dreadful injustices meted out to the miners and their communities at the behest of the state. Hopefully this inquiry will deliver the justice and accountability that is long overdue.

The Crime and Policing Bill will create new police powers to restrict protest methods used by the suffragettes and anti-apartheid movement. If the govt will not withdraw this clause, there should be full debate and a vote on this proposal, for Members of the Commons.

In the past week, Royal Mail offices on Teesside have been in the top five in their region for delivery failure. If we're serious about improving performance, a fundamental rethink is needed. The obvious solution is to take Royal Mail back into public ownership - and quickly.

I support deferred maternity leave for mums with cancer. I am proud to support the work of @MummysStar who do invaluable work supporting families through cancer in or around pregnancy. 1/2

March for love, hope and unity this Saturday. Stand with Together Alliance @togetheralliance.bsky.social - and say enough is enough to the far-right. ➡️find out more at: togetheralliance.org.uk

I share concerns that the UK is being drawn further into this US and Israel-initiated conflict. This is mission creep without parliamentary authorisation.

MPs were briefed by @healthequitynorth.bsky.social on findings that inequalities between the North and rest of England have widened over the decade. Reducing ill health in the North is essential to tackling economic inactivity and boosting productivity. www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/health-for-w...

This week has seen World Social Work Day and I joined @basw-uk.bsky.social and @swu-uk.bsky.social with social workers from across the country to celebrate the work they do. #WSWD2026

Too many workers, immigrant or otherwise, are simply not paid enough and still need state support to make ends meet. Extending settlement entitlement from five to ten years is a bad policy in itself. But it would be disastrous against the objective of reducing child poverty.

This week I hosted @ginitastar.bsky.social, the @unsrapporteurfoaa.bsky.social. She discussed the Govts 'cumulative disruption' proposals to restrict protest rights. And she expressed concern they are unique and could be copied by more authoritarian govts.

Labour yet again supporting our steel industry and British manufacturing. 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98q8q4zl8qo

I voted against the increase in Higher Education fee limits today.

The US Pres is requesting UK military assets to police the Straits of Hormuz. This is the mission creep many have warned against. The govt must confirm the UK will not provide further military assets to this US war and MPs must be able to vote on any such proposal.

I’ve tabled a motion on improving enforcement of Employment Tribunal awards. @tbij.bsky.social found around 75% workers using the tribunal penalty enforcement scheme never receive their award. Let's ensure our new Fair Work Agency is effective and workers to get the money they're owed.