Mayor

THE BOILING FROG OF CLIMATE CHANGE If you put a frog into boiling water, it’ll jump straight out.  Whereas if you put it into tepid water and heat it up, the frog will not notice, and passively be boiled to death.  Firstly, don’t try this at home.  Secondly, it’s not true.  It comes from an … Read More

ABOUT TIME WE CLEANED UP POLITICS Owen Paterson, MP In George Orwell’s “1984” Winston Smith is tortured until he agrees that two plus two equals five. The point is to make him see that there is no objective truth other than what Big Brother says is true; to give up on truth altogether. Good citizens … Read More

Allan Wells. Anthony Joshua. Linford Christie. Chris Boardman. Nicola Adams. Pythagoras. Eliud Kipchoge. Haile Gebrselassie. Nadia Comaneci. All Olympic champions.  No, that’s not a mistake, although it’s true that you’re more likely to associate Pythagoras with triangles, rather than the Olympics. Pythagoras didn’t win an Olympic crown for doing difficult sums. He won for boxing.  … Read More

Cooperation is what makes humans special. Just look at the vaccine roll out. The way we went from research and development, into production, into the public sector organisation getting jabs into people’s arms. It also shows how vulnerable our economy is – our very lives are – when nature is disrupted and our environment becomes … Read More

Talent was in the North East last week, along with Hollywood fever.  The latest Indiana Jones film is being shot at stunning Bamburgh Castle. It struck me that Raiders of the Lost Ark was released in 1981.  I was 11. How time flies. I expect Harrison Ford is thinking that, though anyone who saw him … Read More

When we talk about transport there are two questions. First, what transport system do we want? And second, how are we going to pay for it? It’s the second one that causes all the problems. Transport is a fundamental part of everything we do. It’s a mistake to let the market dictate its direction. It … Read More

From B&Bs in Berwick to micro pubs in Newcastle, small businesses across our region are opening up. They’ve had a hell of a year. No trading for six months has taken its toll on hospitality and cultural businesses. The self-employed have been hit hardest, with only a fraction of the support of other companies. Over … Read More

Town planning is as old as cities. The Romans did it. In fact, the ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro in the Indus Valley had a planned water and sanitation system 2,600 years before Hadrian’s Wall was built. As Britain moved out of the medieval era, towns grew. People lived closer together, and governments needed to minimise … Read More

Most political leaders get to choose their cabinets – local authority leaders, Scottish or Welsh first minister, the Prime Minister. Combined Authority Mayors are the exception. Our cabinets comprise the leaders and deputies from each constituent council. I’m looking forward to welcoming the new North of Tyne Cabinet Members, regardless of party. Despite the narrative … Read More

There’s something rotten in the state of Britain. In 1963, Cabinet Minister John Profumo resigned after lying about an extra-marital affair with Christine Keeler. That was sleaze. I agree with former Tory Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, who said about Coalition minister Chris Huhne’s affair, “What goes on in people’s private lives is a subject … Read More

Stewart Lee was once given some advice on how to earn a living in the transient world of stand-up comedy. “You get 5000 people to like you, and they all give you £10 a year. That’s a living. ”It’s a risk, pursuing your passion. And it’s not an easy option, as any established musician or … Read More

The notion of a job for life is fast receding. Not so long ago, a job at “The Ministry” in Longbenton, or maybe with the local council, meant financial security. Not in any sense of luxury, but the stability to raise a family, followed by a decent pension after you’d put in your decades of … Read More

I just about remember the TV show ‘When the Boat Comes In’. It was set in the fictional town of Gallowshields in the North East. If you’ve seen it even once, you’ll remember the theme tune, “Thou shalt have a fishy, on a little dishy, thou shalt have a fishy when the boat comes in.” … Read More