Over the last couple of years, we’ve become used to the drumbeat of good news stories about our local economy. Government backing for this giant new power station is another really important example.

It’s a really proud day for Middlesbrough to have won the right to service and maintain HMS Enterprise, Echo and Protector. Shipbuilding and repair is one of our region’s historic strengths and this is a tribute to the skills of U.K. Docks.

The ONS’s summary of today’s brilliant UK jobs market news shows:

?‍? Employment at an all-time high
? Unemployment below 4% for first time in 44 years
?‍♂️ Fewest people economically inactive ever
? Wages up 3.4% - almost twice the rate of inflation

? JUST ANNOUNCED: A New Offshore Wind Sector Deal - great for lots of Teesside firms!

➡️ 1/3 of ALL UK electricity to be produced by clean offshore wind by 2030.

➡️ Tripling jobs in offshore wind to 27,000 people.

After a phenomenal start to 2019, from saving Teesside Airport to sealing the deal for the Tata land in Redcar, it was good to pay tribute to our Tess Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen in Parliament yesterday. It was great to hear the Government's full support in reply!

I was on the BBC’s Sunday Politics with Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd yesterday. He refused to commit to supporting Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen’s plan to save our airport.

This time next week, the Labour leaders of the five Tees Valley councils will vote on the most significant investment package in Teesside in our lifetimes. There is no overstating the importance of this: what is on offer will be genuinely transformational.

There is great breaking news this morning for the whole South Tees Development Corporation regeneration project, as Ben Houchen,Tees Valley Mayor, has finalised a deal with Tata Steel to secure more than half of all the developable land on the Redcar site.

Happy New Year! Have a really great time tonight. There's a hugely exciting 2019 ahead - please SHARE this post to spread the word about what's coming up!

You can catch up on My Plan for our area here

The breaking news that Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, has agreed a deal to rescue our airport is amazing, and I know will be hugely welcomed across our constituency.

Ben made a promise to buy Durham Tees Valley airport and he has delivered.