North East business leaders rubbed shoulders with Labour’s top politicians at The Northern Echo’s BUSINESSiQ Awards on Thursday night.

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer and his Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves spoke to senior business figures from across the region at our glitzy awards night at Ramside Hall in County Durham.

They joined a drinks reception ahead of the event and spoke to the likes of Hays Travel chair Dame Irene Hayes, the event’s guest speaker, and Steve Cram.

The Northern Echo: Sir Keir Starmer speaks to The Northern Echo's Mike Hughes.Sir Keir Starmer speaks to The Northern Echo's Mike Hughes. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

The awards, now in their second year, saw hundreds of members of the business community came together to celebrate the best of business across the region.

Northern Echo editor Gavin Foster said: “It was nice to have a special guest who could possibly be a future Prime Minister. It was fantastic to have them here to experience the atmosphere ahead of this fantastic event.”

Alfie Joey, who hosted the event for the second time, added: “We’ve just had a visit from the next Prime Minister… That’s not my words – it’s William Hill and Ladbrokes’.”

The Northern Echo: Rachel Reeves at The Northern Echo's BUSINESSiQ Awards on Thursday (April 25) evening at Ramside Hall.Rachel Reeves at The Northern Echo's BUSINESSiQ Awards on Thursday (April 25) evening at Ramside Hall. (Image: Chris Booth)

It comes after the Labour Leader reaffirmed his support for the Northern Echo’s campaign to save Hitachi in Newton Aycliffe. On a visit to the factory earlier on Thursday said, “the government needs to step in”.

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