Ahoy! The Great Verbal Vorticular pinballs ever onward this week! Astonishing Stories! Astounding Stamina! 50 Years Before the Showbiz Mast laid bare! Nobody gets short changed - 100% guaranteed! dannybakerstore.com

The huge rise in dependence on food parcels shows the scale of the cost-of-living crisis and problem of poverty. The Govt must urgently pause and rethink cuts to PIP and Universal Credit if we are to alleviate poverty and to bring down food bank use. politicshome.com/news/article/f…

“Tees Valley Combined Authority spent over £13,000 sending two staff members to the south of France in March. But there's no evidence they actually did any work when they were there.” Teesside.thelead.uk/p/ben-houchen-…

We've got confirmation today that the Tees Valley will be receiving £1 billion to develop our transport network across the region and £60 million to create that third platform at Middlesbrough railway station. So, a great, great day for transport in the Tees Valley.

Over 100 MPs have signed my motion urging the UK govt to recognise the state of Palestine. The UN's conference to discuss Palestine's future was due to start today. The UK should recognise the state of Palestine now.

The Labour MPs signing the reasoned amendment are trying to prevent the government from straying into colossal error. They come with great experience and knowledge and they want the government to listen, to pause and have a rethink. More from me on BBC Tees today. 👇

That image will spread world wide. We gave the world the railways from the Notth East of England . 27th September 1825 . Stockton & Darlington Railway

I welcomed the long-sought ceasefire in Gaza and the safe return of prisoners and hostages. I raised concerns that the 20-point plan is without Palestinian input, and the need for Palestinian self-determination, their consent for any governance or stabilisation arrangements.

Private Eye’s richard brooks today exposes how Lord Houchen enabled two businessmen to turn Teesworks into a taxpayer-funded gravy train. It is a staggering story. The investment should have created a wealth fund for Teesside but fills millionaire coffers instead.

This iconic bridge - 114 years old today - has to be restored and put back into full working action, whatever it takes. And rest assured that as the MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, I'll be pursuing government and anybody else I need to, to make sure that that happens.

Just leave this here......

The test of the Budget is whether it lifts real spending power and improves living standards for people on low- and middle-incomes. They want their pay and incomes up, everyday fares and bills down, and public services improved through just and fair taxation. #Budget2025

The big news for me was the abolition of the two child cap. I've been campaigning for that ever since - and before - the election. That's gone. That's great. #Budget2025

BREAKING: Labour's landmark Employment Rights Bill has PASSED both Houses of Parliament. The new rights in this Bill will be transformational, putting power back into the hands of working people. This is a massive step forward in delivering Labour's New Deal for Working People

The Employment Rights Bill has passed through the Lords and we can deliver on the New Deal for Working People. We started this process over five years ago with our trade union partners. This is going to deliver the biggest uplift in employment rights in a generation.

What if CEO's had to pitch to workers?

My very best wishes to all of my Middlesbrough and Thornaby east constituents, to my colleagues, and my friends. And a big thank you to the children of Harewood Primary School in Thornaby, who designed some wonderful Christmas cards for me this year.

New Reform candidate Matt Goodwin has claimed that being born and raised in England doesn't make you English. These Luton workers proudly disagree.

What would you improve in your community if you had £40m? In my regular North East Bylines column I look at the Labour Government's Pride in Place programme and encourage people living in TS3 to make their voices heard. Read the article here - northeastbylines.co.uk/.../what-would…

The UK is duty-bound to prevent genocide. In Gaza, history will judge whether we acted when the warning signs were crystal clear. What evidence would be required to accept the risk if neither the ICJ nor the UN Commission of Inquiry suffices?