Hitachi, RAAC, knife crime. These are just some of the major issues facing the North East that we included in our Northern Echo manifesto - points we want the next Prime Minister to tackle in our region. But, what did they say when we asked them to back our demands?

Five years have passed since the UK last took to the polls for a general election. Boris Johnson was jubilant in an unprecedented pre-Christmas victory for the Conservatives - and the COVID-19 pandemic was just months away.

It's fair to say that since then, we have had a turbulent few years. Families are still affected by the cost of living, inflation, high energy bills and food prices. Now, as July 4 looms the North East has its chance to have its say.

With that in mind, we created The Northern Echo manifesto last month to lay out the most serious issues in the North East.

They are:

Since then, we have been asking politicians to put their money where their mouth is and back our campaign - getting them to respond to the issues affecting our region the most.

Here is what both the Conservative and Labour leaders had to say.

The Labour Party - Sir Keir Starmer

(Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Upon being presented with a copy of the Northern Echo's manifesto on June 11, the Labour leader enthusiastically backed the campaign.

He said during a visit to Whale Hill Primary School in Teesside on Tuesday that all six points were “key priorities” for the party. 

He explained: “Not only are we in support of the work that you are doing, we've got the plan in place to make sure we can deliver it from day one. 

“That sits alongside our six first steps, which are the steps that we say we'll be able to get on with in government from day one.

“So six first steps which are to do with stabilising the economy, making sure the NHS waiting lists come down, make sure GB Energy is set up so we can tackle the cost of living crisis. 

“That's the choice of the election - carry on with the chaos and division that's led us to you having to produce these commitments, turn the page, a fresh start with Labour, and day one get those first six steps started.”

In an op-ed written for the Echo, Mr Starmer stated: "After 14 years of Tory chaos and division, working people across the North East are paying the price.

"My changed Labour Party is back in the service of working people. We have a clear plan that will make a real difference to the lives of people across the North East."

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves was also pressed on the Echo's manifesto on June 5 - and said she hopes the next Labour government can do the North East "proud" by delivering. 

She detailed this would be done through the following plan:

  • Step in and secure the future of Hitachi - by bringing forward contracts
  • Tackle knife crime - by putting 13,000 new police officers on the streets 
  • Commit to a statutory public inquiry into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust (TEWV) - Ms Reeves said Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting has agreed to meet with affected families
  • Reduce child poverty - she said this is in 'Labour's DNA' and would be 'central' to their government should they win
  • Commit to exam mitigations for RAAC-hit County Durham school
  • Save the dental desert and tackle lengthy waiting lists - by cracking down on tax avoidance and investing money into the service

The Conservative Party - Rishi Sunak

(Image: The Conservative Party)

The Prime Minister has been more reluctant to fully back the Echo's campaign.

In an interview with The Northern Echo on June 8, detail on regional promises for the North East was scant as the Prime Minister outlined national pledges. 

Despite being challenged by the Echo before on his lack of a plan to save the Newton Aycliffe Hitachi factory,  Mr Sunak still did not have a definitive plan to keep it open if re-elected. 

On Hitachi, he promised that the Conservatives are "committed to a really robust rail manufacturing supply chain because that's important to our country."

Mr Sunak later said he "won't rule out" an inquiry into beleaguered mental health trust Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV), but believes it is best for investigations by the Healthcare Services Safety Investigations Body to conclude before the government takes inquiry action. 

Though the North East has experienced one of the steepest increases in child poverty rates over much of the last decade, the Prime Minister said he was "proud that since 2010 we've reduced the number of children living in poverty meaningfully."

He believes the best way to get children out of poverty is good jobs for parents - and has promised that schemes like the Teesside Freeport will continue to provide high-quality jobs for the North East. 

Mr Sunak believed his schismatic National Service promise could be part of the solution for knife crime, which disproportionately impacts young people. 

He believes it will give youngsters "skills and opportunities, and a sense of belonging and purpose."

It looks as though St Leonard's, the Durham City secondary school thought to be the "worst affected" by the RAAC crisis, still will not be receiving exam grade boosts this summer, even though students, parents and teachers have said that this year's disruption has been crippling for education. 

The school has been added to the School Rebuilding Programme, and affected buildings will be completely rebuilt over the coming years. 

Mr Sunak said: "I know that in the case of St Leonard's, officials in the Department have worked closely with the school, and I am grateful to all of them for their close collaboration.

"We have also worked closely with Ofqual in addition to asking awarding organisations to agree to longer extensions for coursework and non-examined assessment."

In an op-ed for The Northern Echo, the PM wrote: "I know the potential of this area. Over the last 10 years, I have seen this region transformed by a Conservative government and a Conservative Mayor in Ben Houchen who has believed in you and your future.  

"For decades, this area was taken for granted and neglected by Labour. They expected your loyalty and your vote but they never delivered for you.

"This Conservative party will never take you for granted."