Northumberland Labour says the government’s levelling up plans will go nowhere near to repairing the damage they have done in nearly 12 years in power.

Leader Scott Dickinson said: “What the Tories fail to understand is that the government is supposed to serve everyone in the country, not just their rich friends, not just their rich donors, but every person in the country.

“But what’s happened in nearly 12 years of Conservative power is a reverse Robin Hood strategy of stealing from the poor and giving to the rich. So many people have lost the things we should all expect in a modern rich country; a decent house, a decent job, a good education and care when you need it.

“People are even feeling less safe on the streets. These are all things that, if the will is there, can be addressed. The trouble is this government doesn’t have the will to do this.

“Labour wants to focus on providing the security, prosperity and respect everyone in this country deserves.”

Labour has pledged to:

• create jobs and apprenticeships so young people have choices and chances where they live
• help our high streets thrive, freeze business rates and make, buy and sell more in Britain
• fund 100,000 new start-up businesses to grow our economies and harness ambition
• give communities the power to make decisions for their area

Councillor Scott continued: “Sadly we’ve seen the behaviour of the national government reflected in our local council. We know that people voted Tory because they wanted things to be different, but they’ve been badly let down; no affordable housing built, no freeze on business rates and council tax shooting up.

“People deserve better than this.”