MPs from across the North East have been reacting to a shocking new report highlighting regional poverty.

The research, conducted by Health Equity North, shows that adults in the area have shorter lives, are paid less and are more likely to suffer with major illnesses.

One section of the report reveals that there are 200,000 children in the North East living in poverty.

That is 38 per cent of children compared to 27 per cent nationally.

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Peter Gibson, MP for Darlington, pushed the need to champion 'levelling up' to reverse the trend.

He said: "The findings in this report serve to reinforce many of the things that we already know.

"Health outcomes in the North lag behind other areas, just as our region has lagged behind other areas on many metrics for decades under governments of all colours.

"Championing levelling up to bring better job opportunities, improved skills and training and seeking a parity of funding on health is key to tackling these challenges.

"Government, local government, third sector and healthcare can work together to reverse this picture. 

"Individuals can also take steps to improve their health too."

Mary Foy, MP for Durham, blasted the Conservative government for letting the region fall behind.

She said: "Millions are feeling the pain of Tory economic failure, but this report lays bare the deep corrosive effects of rising poverty in our region.

"It is clear that despite pledging to ‘Level Up’ the North East, on the Conservatives watch the region has instead been left behind, with people living shorter, unhealthier and poorer lives compared to those in the South East.   

"All too often we hear about the cost of tackling poverty, but this research shows the staggering cost of inaction."

The percentage of physically active adults in the region, those doing less than 2.5 hours of exercise a week, is 10 per cent higher than the rest of the country.

More adults are admitted to hospital because of alcohol and drug misuse.

Emergency hospital admissions are 'well above' the national English average.

Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockon North, slammed the 'Levelling Up' programme for not doing enough.

He said: "More and more children in our region are experiencing poverty and health inequalities are some of the worst in the country as a result of over a decade of Conservative Government.

"Children are having their life chances impacted and deep-rooted health conditions go untackled because the Conservatives have closed Sure Start Children’s Centres, cancelled a much-needed new hospital for Stockton, and cut local authority funding to the bone.

"Ministers talk a good game about “levelling up” but the reality is they’ve not only failed to deliver better life and health outcomes for people in Stockton on Tees and the Tees Valley – they’ve actually made them worse."

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The final section of the report looks at the financial situation of adults living in the North East.

Wages are lower than the national average despite people working the same number of hours.

If measures are taken to improve the livelihoods of people across the region then £4bn could be regained from lost productivity due to bad health.