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My constituency was once a thriving industrial centre.

The Consett Steel Works provided real jobs for ­thousands. We also had a lead mining and textile industry.

Although much of it was hard and dirty work – Consett was thick with red dust – it kept people’s heads above water.

Then came along Thatcher’s Conservative Government with their sledgehammer and took it all apart.

I, like many people in the North East, cannot forgive the Conservatives for this recklessness.

It was more than just jobs, it was a whole community, a way of life that was being destroyed.

(Image: Leon Neal)

That industry, once taken apart, could never be put back together again and generations were harmed.

Decent jobs could have been ­created to replace the ones we lost. Instead, our region was frozen out by a distant Conservative Government in London, totally out of touch with our reality.

Even our own New Labour Government didn’t go far enough to rectify the harm inflicted on our communities.

This part of the world should have had the wind knocked out of its sails but that hasn’t happened.

There are huge amounts of ­untapped skill and opportunity in my ­constituency and the most ­wonderful people live here. What we need is a 21st century industrial strategy that works for the North East.

My constituency, North West Durham, needs investment in transport infrastructure to connect people with places and attract ­business. And we need major ­investment in vocational education.

(Image: Getty Images)

That’s exactly what Labour plan to do, as laid out in our manifesto, which I’ve given all my friends a copy of this for Christmas.

When I was first elected I knew that fighting benefit cuts was going to be high on my agenda.

Because of the explosion of low-paid work in North West Durham, many have their pay topped up.

Therefore an attack on the social security system is an attack on low-paid workers, as well as those without work.

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I immediately knew that Universal Credit was an issue I wanted to fight on. Because it was another kick in the teeth for the good people of my constituency.

The Conservatives were always ­unlikely to pause and fix their ­flagship policy. For all the noise, they don’t see what we see.

We desperately need a different government and hope of a better world. Can we have it soon in the new year please?