THE campaign to bring 7,000 jobs to the region moved to the top of the political agenda last night as the Conservatives pledged to devise a ports strategy if they were elected.

PD Ports is campaigning for the Government to devise a strategy that would see more investment pouring into northern ports rather than continuing to allow development at congested southern ports.

At the launch of the Conservative manifesto yesterday, Shadow Transport Secretary Tim Yeo pledged that the first thing he would do if elected would be to implement a ports strategy.

PD Ports is arguing for the Government to put on hold three planning applications for ports in Felixstowe, Harwich and London to allow it to devise the ports strategy allowing for more balanced development across the UK.

If that happens, PD Ports plans to invest £300m in a deep sea container terminal at Tees Port, which would allow container ships from the Far East to dock and unload, creating up to 7,000 jobs in distribution centres and at the port.

The Northern Echo is backing PD Ports' arguments through the Support Our Port campaign.

Mr Yeo told The Northern Echo yesterday: "The Conservative Government will produce a national ports strategy as a matter of urgency. We believe that ports are a strategic asset to this country and yet there is terrible uncertainty in the southern ports, where the Government has been sitting on reports about their future for some time, and at the same time PD Ports are very keen to invest heavily on Teesside.

"We want to make sure that obstacles to that investment are minimised which is why we need a national strategy."

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said Mr Yeo believed Teesport had a strong case for expansion because many people in the South did not want any more congestion around their ports.

PD Ports' business development director, Martin Pellew, said last night: "We are delighted that both the Labour Party and the Conservative Party are aware of the opportunity to tackle the social, economic and environmental issues involved here."

At the weekend, Tony Blair said Teesport had "a good case", but he was wary of prejudicing the planning process by commenting on the southern ports' expansion plans.