Labour committed to Darlington Economic Campus, Rachel Reeves says

She was working from the town’s Treasury offices on Thursday on just her sixth day as Chancellor.

She told media the Government want to expand the site with more than 400 extra jobs, branding it a ‘real success story’ and saying Labour was ‘committed’ to the site’s future.

Ms Reeves told reporters: “Not only are we committed to keeping the Darlington Economic Campus but we want to expand the number of jobs here, recruiting from the local area.

“As a northern MP I want to be here regularly.

Rachel Reeves. (Image: TREASURY)

“I’m on day six of the job, I’m already here. Not just in a flying visit but working here, having meetings with colleagues and staff. We want this to continue and it absolutely will.

“It’s not just me – I had my first meeting with my new ministerial team yesterday and one of the key things I said in that meeting was that I want ministers working not just from London but from Darlington. I think it’s really important that we do that.

“I know that talent in our country is spread throughout it, but for too long too many jobs have been focussed in London and the South East.

“I want to draw on the huge talent there is here in the North East to bring good jobs here at this campus.

“We’ve got an ambition to have 1,400 jobs at the DEC, up from 950 where it is today and also the commitment to move into that new building to host the staff and we’ll do that by 2026. 85% of the staff here are recruited from the local area.”

Earlier in the day she addressed staff working at the Treasury and bought lunch from Black Olive Deli on Darlington's Grange Road.

Last year the decision to move the department to Darlington was questioned by cross-party MPs who said the then-Government had provided limited justification for the move and exaggerated its success.

The relocation of 750 jobs to the town stands as part of Rishi Sunak’s legacy having announced the move in his March 2021 budget.

It comes as Ms Reeves brushed off claims levelling up had been ditched by Labour after the phrase was slashed from the name of Angela Rayner’s government department this week.

Rachel Reeves. (Image: TREASURY)

She said Sir Keir Starmer’s Government was “not about gimmicks” but said growth is what would actually level up the country.

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“The number one mission of this government is to grow the economy and bring good jobs and productivity, growth to all parts of the country,” the Chancellor said.

“What we’re doing though is not about gimmicks. This is about bringing good jobs, paying decent wages to parts of the country that need them and nowhere is that more important, I would argue, than in the North East of England.

“What we need is a government that’s going to back the ambition that people have for their communities and businesses and that’s what they have with this new Labour Government.”

New MP Lola McEvoy said: "Just days in to her new job, it was fantastic to welcome our Chancellor to Darlington today and have a chat about through our priorities around jobs, green growth, the cost of living and the National Wealth Fund. 

Darlington MP Lola McEvoy with Chancellor Rachel Reeves. (Image: STUART BOULTON)

"It's no coincidence that Rachel decided to come to our town so early on. This Labour Government is committed to devolution and improving our region - the expansion of the Treasury and the Darlington Economic Campus are key markers of that. 

"On a personal note, it was also a privilege to have a moment to congratulate her on being the first female Chancellor of our country."