We should get a sense of what voters in key electoral battlegrounds are feeling about the main parties. There are some key tests for Labour.
The Government’s actions are also a sign of confidence in the combined authority model.
Regional control over adult education is already helping to deliver significant results in skills.
We left the EU precisely to take back control. Having repatriated power, we mustn’t leave it in the hands of Whitehall functionaries.
The role of strong local leadership here cannot be underestimated in galvanizing place prosperity.
In terms of parliamentary seats, CCHQ now needs to be targeting the North East of England much more broadly for the next election.
I’ll get back to work the moment the election result is announced.
I am very conscious that I am only one of 141 Conservative candidates campaigning in these elections.
The choice facing voters on May 6 is simple: do we accelerate the progress of the last four years, or do we go back to the old failing approach?
This is an ambitious project designed to appeal to the 30 per cent of people here who don’t cycle but say they would like to give it a go.
Whitehall must understand that if an algorithm offers up cherished green spaces to hungry developers, there will be a local backlash.
As the short-term economy comes under immense strain, we should support the UK’s biggest single long-term investment.
The devolved Adult Education Budget ensures that every pound delivers more qualifications that employers actually want.
A proposed transformation would move away from the reliance on big anchor stores and create 1,300 new homes – all on reclaimed brownfield sites.
With the help of government funding, the region is pioneering new technologies to create vital jobs and build more homes.