The leader of Northumberland Labour group is urging residents to use their vote in the upcoming May elections.

Susan Dungworth said people can still apply for a postal vote to ensure their voices are heard.

She added: “Four years of a Conservative-led Northumberland have not served us well. They promised social housing and not a single brick was laid; they plunged more children into poverty and they badly let people down by taking away council tax support for the most vulnerable. They did nothing to tackle bad landlords and they let social housing stock go to wrack and ruin.

“They were elected on the promise of ‘sorting out’ Arch and replaced it with Advance Northumberland whose own external auditors said they could no longer work with. They judged Labour for their track record and then turned out to have a very poor track record themselves.

“Northumberland Labour has very positive and ambitious plans for the county which will benefit each and every person living here. We have a fabulous heritage here in Northumberland, and we should be proud of that, but we need to look to the future by building homes, retrofitting existing homes to make them greener and cheaper to run, providing jobs with fair terms and conditions and building up and supporting our communities.

“We will work with businesses to support them, support young people with good ideas and revitalise our high streets. We are a mixed county of commercial, industrial, rural and tourist areas. Every aspect of our county will benefit from being in a Labour-led Northumberland.

“If the pandemic has taught us anything it is that we are at our best when people look out for each other, when key workers are recognised and paid appropriately and when people have a decent roof over their head. These are things we’ll be striving for in a Labour-led Northumberland.

“Northumberland Labour’s leadership are determined to learn from the past and work tirelessly to improve life for every resident living in the county. Our watch words will always be what’s better for people in Northumberland.

“We’re excited about our manifesto a home, a job, a friend because it has come about from listening to people and finding out what’s important to them. We want to make Northumberland the best county to grow up, live and grow old in.

“I would urge everyone to cast their vote on 6 May.”