It's been brilliant to see everyone's enthusiasm for a freeport for Teesside following yesterday's announcement.

Labour have a narrative where everything keeps getting worse. It’s not helpful - and more importantly, it’s just not true.

This month’s latest figures from Office for National Statistics show:

I’ve been back in Doncaster today with Ben Houchen to discuss all things British Steel with the special working group of management and unions.

Yesterday was absolutely jam-packed! I was proud to:

✅ Secure confirmation at Treasury Select Committee that Carbon Capture and Storage is essential for heavy industry on Teesside

I’ve been in Doncaster this morning for the weekly meeting of the British Steel taskforce with Business Secretary Greg Clark, Ben Houchen Tees Valley Mayor, the company and the trade unions.

So many of our local firms are doing great things, and on Friday I visited FJ Booth Construction, the structural steelworks contractor led by local man Shaun Muir.

There’s great news today that PD Ports (Teesport) have opened a new rail freight link into and out of our region to cope with growing demand at our port. The twice-daily service to Doncaster will remove 120 road movements every day.

I really welcome the way that local people used May’s local elections to vote for positive change. I will be meeting new Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston soon, and sat down last week with the new Leader of Redcar and Cleveland, Councillor Mary Lanigan.

While new ownership is sought for British Steel, the overwhelming priority of everyone is to keep its plants open and people in work, and that was my message in Parliament this afternoon.

The announcement that British Steel has placed itself into insolvency is an absolute hammer-blow for steel workers and their families. My number one priority is to ensure a sustainable future for the operations at Skinningrove and Lackenby.