NESST – photo courtesy of Northumbria University

For decades, governments have promised to tackle the North-South divide. Yet despite numerous initiatives, too many communities have continued to see investment, opportunity and economic power concentrated elsewhere.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s commitment to the reindustrialisation of the North is built on a simple but powerful principle: “good growth in every postcode.”

It is an ambition that goes beyond economic statistics. It recognises that successful places are built on confidence, skills, educational opportunity and community as much as they are on investment and jobs.

A vision already taking place across the North East

To be clear, reindustrialisation is not about recreating the industries of the past. It is about creating the industries of the future and ensuring that regions with the talent, capability and ambition to succeed are given the opportunity to do so.

The North East region has long been one of Britain’s industrial powerhouses, defined by generations of engineering and manufacturing excellence. Today, it is building a new future around advanced manufacturing, defence, technology and space – sectors that will be critical to the UK’s future economic prosperity and national security.

Few sectors demonstrate this opportunity more clearly than space.

Lockheed Martin Space UK – which has had a presence in the UK for 85 years – has already made a significant impact in the region through its partnership with Northumbria University and the UK Space Agency to create the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST). The initiative combines industry expertise with academic excellence to develop the technology, innovation and talent pipeline needed to support the UK’s growing space economy.

NESST embodies the collaborative approach that successful reindustrialisation requires. The centre brings together industry, government and education while creating clear pathways into high-value careers for local people.

The company’s commitment to the region could soon expand further through plans for a satellite manufacturing facility at NETPark near Sedgefield, one of the UK’s leading science and technology campuses.

Investing for the future, today

Importantly, the North East is not simply preparing for future investment. It is ready today.

Paul Livingston, Chief Executive UK and NATO for Lockheed Martin said:

“The North East has the talent, ambition and industrial heritage to play a leading role in Britain’s reindustrialisation. By bringing together industry, academia and government, we can create highly skilled jobs and help deliver growth and opportunity across the region.”

More than £20m has already been invested in preparing NETPark for advanced manufacturing opportunities, creating a development-ready location for companies seeking to establish cutting-edge facilities. Combined with the region’s engineering expertise, growing technology ecosystem and strong infrastructure, the foundations for a thriving space manufacturing cluster are already in place.

The skills pipeline is equally compelling. NESST is due to open shortly, with the first cohort of 30 students beginning a new aerospace-focused degree programme designed to equip the next generation of engineers and technologists with the skills required by the UK’s growing space sector.

Such an investment would represent a major boost not only for the North East but for the UK’s ambitions in space and advanced manufacturing. It would directly support the Prime Minister’s objective of creating a North that can manufacture, innovate, export and compete on the global stage.

Championing the future

The company’s confidence in the region is shared by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, who has consistently championed both the defence and space sectors as engines of future prosperity.

Her argument is simple. The North East already possesses the industrial capability, workforce and determination required to succeed. What it needs is greater investment and the opportunity to compete.

Kim McGuinness, Mayor of the North East, said:

“For too long, too much investment has been concentrated in too few places. But we have a plan to show what is possible when global industry backs the people of the North East.

“Becoming home to this major Lockheed Martin Space UK manufacturing facility would be transformational for our region. Not only would it create high-value jobs and opportunities for people in Durham and across the North East, it would also help to attract further investment, suppliers, innovators and space businesses to locate here. That is how we build a globally recognised space cluster and deliver lasting economic growth for communities across our region.”

That shared ambition led to the recent Memorandum of Understanding between the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority and Lockheed Martin Space UK, strengthening collaboration around investment, skills and industrial development.

The case for investment is strengthened further when viewed through the lens of national security.

As highlighted by the MP for Newcastle Central and West, Chi Onwurah, the North East sends more young people into the Armed Forces than any other region of the UK and yet receives the lowest level of Ministry of Defence spending.

That disparity presents an opportunity as much as a challenge. As the UK seeks to strengthen sovereign capabilities, increase resilience and invest in the industries that support national security, the North East offers a region with a proven record of service, a highly skilled workforce and infrastructure that is ready to support future growth.

Investment in defence and space would not simply support economic growth. It would strengthen national resilience while ensuring that a region which contributes so much to the nation’s defence benefits more directly from the opportunities created by that commitment.

Kim McGuinness, Mayor of the North East, continued:

“The scale of the opportunity is substantial. Plans include approximately £100m of investment and the potential creation of up to 2,000 new jobs across the UK, including around 500 highly skilled roles in the North East. These positions would support satellite manufacturing, advanced engineering, technology development and supply chain growth while helping strengthen the UK’s sovereign space capability.

Supporting that growth will require a strong pipeline of talent. Encouragingly, that work is already underway.”

Establishing the educational pipeline

New College Durham recently secured designation as an Advanced Manufacturing Technical Excellence College (AMTEC), further strengthening the region’s ability to develop the advanced engineering and manufacturing skills required by future employers.

Alison Maynard, Deputy Principal at New College Durham said that “we see AMTEC playing a vital role in connecting and integrating the North East’s rich industrial, research, and innovation assets, creating a bridge between major developments such as NESST and Lockheed Martin’s planned facility at NETPark.”

Together, initiatives such as NESST, AMTEC and NETPark demonstrate that the North East has already assembled many of the ingredients required for long-term success: investment, infrastructure, innovation, skills and collaboration.

For a Prime Minister committed to delivering growth in every postcode, the North East offers a compelling example of what success can look like.

The region is not waiting for growth to arrive. It is creating it.

Through advanced manufacturing, space technology, education and strategic investment, the North East is demonstrating how reindustrialisation can strengthen the economy, support national resilience and create opportunity for future generations. The infrastructure is ready. The skills pipeline is growing. The partnerships are in place.

The future is being built now.

(Credit: Adobe Stock)

Since its introduction in 1996, the Portman Group’s Code of Practice has been a pioneering system of self-regulation, shaping how alcohol is named, pack­aged and promoted across the UK. The 30^th anniver­sary is a moment for reflection and a reminder of what effective regulation looks like: clear proportionate rules, independent oversight, and the flexibility to reflect changes in society.

Over the last three decades, the Code has provided a clear, enforceable framework to ensure marketing remains socially responsible while supporting a diverse and innovative market.

The Code also addresses a central challenge: ensuring alco­hol is marketed responsibly without relying solely on legisla­tion. Its rules are clear: products must not appeal particularly to under-18s, encourage excessive consumption, or target vulnerable groups. The Code, now in its sixth iteration, has also evolved alongside new changes in marketing and society, such as introducing stronger protections against racist, sexist or other potentially offensive marketing in 2019, with a new review to be conducted soon.

A key strength of this system is its independence and accessi­bility. Complaints can be submitted by anyone – including MPs – and are adjudicated by an Independent Complaints Panel, with the Portman Group acting as secretariat. This ensures decisions are impartial, consistent and evidence-based, maintaining trust among producers, policymakers and the public.

Its impact is evident: more than 200 products have been removed or amended following rulings made by the Panel.

Producers almost always co-operate with the Portman Group to keep marketing responsible, but in rare cases products can be removed from shelves in partnership with retailers, via measures underpinned by the Licensing Act 2003 guidance.

The Portman Group also works proactively with the industry by providing free and confidential advice to all alcohol produc­ers to assist them in complying with the Code when launching new products or marketing campaigns.

Separately, the Portman Group’s voluntary Best Practice Guidance on alcohol labelling sets out expectations regard­ing health information to consumers. These standards are widely applied across the UK market: over 99 per cent of UK alcohol products carry pregnancy warnings; 96 per cent carry unit information; and 89 per cent carry the UK Chief Medical Officers’ Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines – providing consumers with a roadmap to moderation. Additionally, around two-thirds (62 per cent) carry calorie information and close to half carry further warnings against drink driving (48 per cent) or under­age drinking (41 per cent).¹

Keeping the Portman Group at the heart of alcohol labelling

The UK government shortly intends to consult on alcohol labelling to ‘build on’ existing voluntary commitments. The Best Practice Labelling Guidance is a well-established, highly compliant set of recommendations that should act as a solid foundation for this process to ensure that consumers are provided with clear, consistent and actionable information. We encourage the government to work in partnership with the Portman Group as a pro-growth regulator and take advantage of our experience in setting and applying standards for alcohol labelling.

Finally, we hope all parliamentarians will join us in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Portman Group Code of Practice as an internationally respected model for self-regulation, continuing its important work protecting consumers for many years to come.

Click here to read Portman Group’s findings from their 2026 Market Review. For more information contact [email protected] or visit www.portmangroup.org.uk.

Reference

1. Portman Group; Informing consumers through responsible alcohol labelling: 2026 UK Market Review (June 2026)

John Healey will pledge a “new age of industrialisation” for Britain in his speech to Labour conference.

The chancellor is expected to confirm that three new floating docks for the Royal Navy’s submarine service at HM Naval Base Clyde will be built through a UK-only competition. The project, known as Programme Euston, will provide maintenance for the UK’s fleet of nuclear submarines, including inspections, upgrades and repairs.

Healey is expected to draw on his South Yorkshire roots in his first address to Labour conference as chancellor. “My politics were shaped by the industrial heartlands of South Yorkshire”, he is set to say. 

“Today, on the site of the Orgreave pit, is Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Park. Our coal mines are not coming back. But this is how Britain’s industrial past is being remade now for the modern world.

“This is the new age of industrialisation. A new confidence in Britain.”

The chancellor will also commit at least £115 million to a new marine research vessel, which is due to be operational in the early 2030s.

Both projects will be delivered by British companies, as part of what Labour describes as a greater focus on using taxpayers’ money to boost national security while supporting British jobs.

Healey said: “Britain has a proud shipbuilding heritage, and every pound of this strategic investment in a critical sector is backing British jobs on the Clyde and businesses across the UK, supporting growth in every postcode.

“By backing British shipyards, we are not only boosting national security but also securing resilience in the industries that will drive growth today while building the capabilities the country needs for the future.”

Wes Streeting, the defence secretary, said defence spending “should make Britain stronger in every sense”.

He said: “That means backing British by buying British wherever our industry can deliver.

“HM Naval Base Clyde is at the heart of our submarine service. Programme Euston will modernise it for decades to come, while backing British shipyards, workers and engineering.

“That is defence driving the reindustrialisation of Britain and strengthening our sovereign capability.”

Why do we end up so ‘checked out’?

“

It has become ‘normal’ to learn of terrible things.”

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– Annabelle Hird

What can we do about it?

Regular readers will know I’ve become very interested in the history and culture of Ireland. I listen to the Irish Times brilliant INSIDE POLITICS each week and am fascinated by the machinations of the country’s politics.

For a supposedly neutral country, it’s taken an interesting stance on Israel and Gaza. Interesting is perhaps not the word for it. Hypocritical and bizarre would be two other words.

For Ireland the mantra is simple. Gaza good, Israel bad. There is no attempt at nuance. No attempt to understand anything from either an Israel or Jewish viewpoint. And the vast majority of the Irish people are behind their government’s stance.

How many Jewish people are there in Ireland? Take a moment, take a guess? If Ireland had the same proportion of the population there would be around 25,000. In Ireland there are only 2,700 Jews. I wonder why.

James Joyce wrote in his epic Ulysses, which is probably Ireland’s most famous work of literature: “Ireland, they say, has the honour of being the only country which never persecuted the Jews – and do you know why? She never let them in.”

In the Second World War Ireland took in only a few hundred Jewish refugees. So neutral were they that the Irish Taoiseach, Eamon de Valera, delivered a personal message of condolence to the German Embassy on the day Hitler died.

This week, Ireland has been obsessed by a debate over whether their national football team should be playing Israel in a double header Nations League qualifier. The arguments have to be seen or heard to be believed. The Irish goalkeeper has refused to play. Indeed the FA asked UEFA to ensure they didn’t have to play Israel at all. UEFA told them where to stick their request. So the two matches are being played in Hungary and Serbia, with the first leg tonight. (Ireland won 3-0).

Last month, the Irish cricket team played five one day matches against Afghanistan, a country which reduces women to the status of slaves. Was there a peep of protest from anyone? No. No Jews involved, obviously.

Ireland’s attitude to Jews and Israel is a stain on its reputation. I don’t support the Israeli government. I don’t support many of its actions in Gaza. But I understand why it had to react after October 7th. That terrible day barely rates a mention in the debate about Gaza in Ireland. 

The Irish team wore black armbands tonight in remembrance of those killed in Gaza. Perhaps they should have also worn black armbands on their other arms in remembrance of the kidnapped Bibas babies whom Hamas strangled.  Also of course, of the hundreds of men, women and children raped, decapitated and murdered by Hamas on and following October 7th.

And is if this weren’t crazy enough, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio station has banned its DJs from playing Ed Sheeran songs over the removal of a singer from his concert tour – a decision Sheeran himself had nothing to do with. Virtue signalling, performative dickheads.

You couldn’t make it up.

Grow up Ireland. You’re better than this.

Wes Streeting has appeared to rule out ever standing to become leader of the Labour Party in the future, saying it is “quite a liberating position to be in.”

Speaking at a Fabian Society fringe event at Labour conference, the defence secretary said he was, for the first time in his political life, not angling for the top job.

“I am – for the first time since I was probably about 15 years old – not running to be leader of the Labour party, and it’s quite a liberating position to be in”, Streeting said in comments reported by Times journalist Aubrey Allegretti. 

Asked whether that was the case “for now”, Streeting replied: “That ship has sailed.”

Sounds like Wes Streeting has ruled out another future leadership bid 👀

He tells a Fabian fringe event: “I am – for the first time since I was probably about 15 years old – not running to be leader of the Labour party, and it’s quite a liberating position to be in.”

Asked if…

— Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) September 27, 2026

Streeting resigned as secretary of state for health and social care in May 2026 after professedly losing confidence in Keir Starmer as prime minister.  

Streeting held talks with Starmer in 10 Downing Street at the height of the May 2026 Labour leadership crisis, which followed the recent local elections and simultaneous elections to the devolved Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru. The health secretary was in the building for just 16 minutes before departing. Reports later indicated that Streeting, in the prime minister’s company, had privately stated his intention to resign and challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership. 

Wes Streeting quits as health secretary and calls for Starmer to resign

Streeting, having delayed to avoid interrupting the state opening of parliament, formally submitted his resignation at 1:00 pm on 14 May.

In the days that followed his resignation, Streeting indicated he would stand in a future Labour leadership election. The comments came as part of an appearance at the annual Progress/Progressive Britain conference in London. Streeting was also highly critical of his party’s record since at least 2015.

He stated: “We haven’t had a debate in the Labour Party about who and what we’re for in more than a decade. The moral emergency of antisemitism in our party left little room for intellectual renewal or policy debate on the centre left.

“We then had a dishonest leadership contest, followed by an overcautiousness in opposition. Interesting policy ideas couldn’t be floated because we were too afraid of what the Tories might say, so we said nothing. Instead of a willingness to challenge ideas and kick the tyres, debate was viewed as division and shut down.”

However, following the sensational June 2026 Makerfield by-election, which returned Andy Burnham to parliament, Streeting endorsed Burnham and abandoned his own leadership bid. The former health secretary said he had spoken to Burnham “at length” in recent days.

In a post to social media, he stated: “We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our party and country needs. That is the choice I am making and I hope that everyone else will back Andy, too.”

Streeting was appointed as defence secretary after Burnham entered 10 Downing Street as prime minister. 

Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election to seal parliamentary return