I COULD not believe it when the people of the Tees Valley fell into the world of Tory make-believe and voted in Ben Houchen, who is secretly laughing his head off at the Tory trap they have fallen for.

The so-called Northern Powerhouse has stalled, and an Etonian whiz-kid is favourite to be in charge of the development corporation.

I am disappointed and surprised because the Tories’ reputation has always been the same, and the people should have used a little bit of good old common sense.

The Tories are better known as the Robin Hood in reverse government, because they take from the poor and give to the rich and will never change.

If it was possible to privatise fresh-air, they would do it.

B L Corrigan, Tow Law