Eyes & Ears 11.07.25
Seriously. It's what you've been missing
Message on repeat
The North East continues to be disproportionately affected by the ‘two-child limit’ policy on child benefit, according to figures released yesterday by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Around 19,000 households are affected, 13,000 in the North East Combined Authority area and 6,000 in Tees Valley - an increase from 17,550 households the previous year.
Shockingly, the new figures show that 170 women across the North East have had to formally declare that they had been the victim of rape in order to receive an exemption from the policy.
Beth Farhat, Chair of the North East Child Poverty Commission, said: “Ending this cruel policy would be transformational for tens of thousands of children across our region, and that doing so must be the very first lever the Government pulls as part of its long-awaited plan. There is simply no route to meaningfully reducing child poverty that doesn’t involve scrapping the two-child limit. It is hard to know what further evidence is required to make this decision.”
Big - not better
With food scarce and hard physical labour common among the working classes, early Victorians associated plumpness with health, prosperity, and social status.
How times have changed.
A new report commissioned by the Child of the North All-Party Parliamentary Group and led by Health Equity North exposes stark inequalities in childhood obesity and food insecurity across the North.
Poverty is a major issue with the prevalence of obesity among children in reception year more than twice as high in the most deprived areas (12.9%) compared to the least deprived (6%).
The North East figures make for grim reading with an overall obesity rate of 24.5%, the highest in the country.
The report’s authors, who include academics from Newcastle and Teesside universities, make a series of recommendations including universal school meals, promoting physical activity in deprived areas, better access to nutritious food, and appointing a Minister to have responsibility for Early Years Food and Health.
“Without urgent action, the inequality facing children in the North will only deepen,” they say.
Better - not big
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced plans to open 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs across every local authority area by the end of 2028, providing a single point of access for services including health, education and wellbeing.
The hubs are aimed at building on the legacy of the Sure Start programme which was introduced by the Labour government in 1999 but was scaled back significantly by the coalition government in 2010. The programme is now recognised to have made a significant difference in improving outcomes for disadvantaged children and families.
Signal of intent
Critical funding to upgrade the signalling system on the Tyne and Wear Metro has been confirmed by the Department for Transport (DfT).
Nexus submitted a business case to the DfT last year which asked for around £400m for the upgrade - MD Cathy Massarella said: “We are working with analogue technology in a digital era. Without signals we can't run the trains.”
Longer wait
The reopening of the Northumberland Line has been a huge success, but the new stations at Bedlington and Northumberland Park will not be ready to open this year.
Bedlington independent councillor Malcolm Robinson said: “The worst part is we're waving at trains trundling through Bedlington so many times a day that it cuts the town in half because of the level crossing, and we can't get on them.”
Dual purpose
The A66 will become a dual carriageway all the way from Scotch Corner to Penrith, the Government confirmed this week. It was one of five major road schemes, five rail projects and 28 smaller road schemes signed off following a review of transport infrastructure projects.
The news did not go down well with Richard Wearmouth, the deputy leader of Northumberland County Council, who wants to see the A1 dualled in the county.
Talking of Scotch Corner, the Designer Village , which is 50% complete, announced 19 more outlets this week, meaning it is now 82% pre-let and will feature 73 stores and food brands when the doors open in Spring 2027.
Mayor power
The English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill was published yesterday. It doesn’t look like it contains much of significance to the North East, although mayors will get more powers over planning, housing, transport, regeneration, and licensing - including new “development orders” to fast-track projects.
The immediate reaction from the British Chambers of Commerce was that further devolution was welcomed so long as it delivered local economic growth.
You have been warned
Personal recommendation is the most powerful form of marketing, so be prepared for an influx of visitors to the North East over the next few weeks. The Independent’s Simon Calder, the media’s go-to man for all things related to travel and holidays, was a guest on ITV’s This Morning.
When asked about holidaying in the UK, he singled out Tynemouth. Cue pictures of Longsands and the Priory. Co-host Ben Shepherd was equally enthusiastic and mentioned the quality of the fish and chips. “You can’t beat the North East,” said Calder.
Destination North East England needs to sign him up.
Open for (not just) business
Newcastle Building Society’s new flagship branch in the heart of the city centre is now open for business - with an open invitation for people to make use of the community spaces in the five-storey building.
The society has chosen to buck the trend of banks closing branches by opening new sites and locating branches in shared buildings.
Chief executive Andrew Haigh said: “Monument is much more than a branch. It’s a place with the next generation in mind, with free-to-use spaces serving our community and civic partners, helping to make meaningful conversation and positive change happen, with an ambition to drive prosperity across the region.”
North East mayor Kim McGuinness performed the opening ceremony with assistance from former Newcastle United star Shola Ameobi, now a trustee of the club’s Foundation.
No movement
Newcastle’s Movement Strategy, a plan to improve the city’s transport network over the next 20 years, has been delayed again and won’t be published until September at the earliest.
Lib Dem councillor Mike Cookson said: “This is deeply frustrating. Labour are now in government, hold the mayor, and are running the council, but still can't get on and deliver what the residents of Newcastle need - an integrated, sustainable travel network that gives people choices, and works for residents."
The delay comes amid a period of uncertainty at the civic centre that last month saw the transport department moved out of the portfolio of senior director Michelle Percy, who has since taken a period of leave.
Gap legacy
The largest section of the Sycamore Gap tree goes on permanent display at The Sill in Northumberland National Park from today.
It is surrounded by three oak benches, with streams of wood forming a canopy in the shape of a giant sycamore leaf that “gently embraces the tree and those engaging with it.”
Tony Gates, chief executive of Northumberland National Park, said: “The original tree may be gone in the form we knew it, but its legacy remains, and what has come since has been endlessly positive, affirming our belief that people, nature and place cannot be separated and are interdependent.”
The two men found guilty of chopping down the tree are due to be sentenced on Tuesday.
A quick word
British Esports has secured funding to build a national gaming and esports arena in Sunderland, close to the Stadium of Light. The first of Nissan’s most advanced Qashqai to date have started rolling off the production line at their Sunderland plant. The launch comes as the plant celebrates manufacturing 4.5m Qashqais since 2006 – an average of a car every two and a half minutes for 19 years. The next NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week will take place on Monday August 4 to Sunday August 10 when more that 100 venues will offer set menus for £15, £20 or £25 per person. Plans for a 100-hectare solar farm in Greenside have been referred to the Government after Gateshead councillors approved the proposals despite local opposition.
Fast forwarding history
Imagine two thousand years of history condensed into 90 minutes, performed by 1,000 volunteers on a seven and a half acre stage.
Difficult, I know. Maybe best to go see for yourself as Kynren - An Epic Tale of England, returns for a nine-Saturday run at Bishop Auckland beginning on July 19. Star of the show for me was the little girl in the cart being pulled by a goat (see centre picture above). The world would be a much better place if you could bottle her joy and share it.
Reviews have been great and before the show starts you can wander through a ninth century Viking village, interact with the villagers as warriors prepare for a raid, meet the animals and watch sparks fly in the forge as the blacksmiths produce real chainmail.
Developing story
Develop North, the investment company overseen by Newcastle-based fund manager Tier One Capital, has announced plans to significantly expand support for businesses, housing and regeneration projects across the North East.
Ian McElroy, Tier One Capital chief executive, said: “There is a growing expectation that institutional investors, including local government pension schemes, will support investment into UK regions with real economic potential.
“We are witnessing the start of some real momentum in this process, with a number of globally recognised investment firms now allocating capital to the North East.”
Next in line
Next has become the latest big-name retailer to close in Middlesborough. The town's mayor, Chris Cooke, described it as a regrettable loss, while Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen was more forthright.
“Lets be absolutely frank, the town centre is in a dire state and in desperate need of regeneration. To say anything else would be frankly dishonest, and that is why I set up the Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC) to make real change happen.”
University honours
Newcastle University will make Gateshead-born TV historian David Olusoga an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law this summer.
Other notable figures being honoured include former Sage Group chief executive Paul Walker, Professor Richard Oreffo, founder of the Cowrie Scholarship Foundation, Huffty McHugh from Newcastle's West End Women, and Leon Restaurants co-founder Henry Dimbleby.
Big job
The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) is the world’s largest professional PR body, representing over 35,000 professionals across 82 countries, with regional hubs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Americas.
So, congratulations to the North East’s Sarah Waddington CBE who has been confirmed as permanent CEO after a two-month recruitment process which attracted more than 300 applicants.
Business bites
Demolition specialists Thompsons of Prudhoe has been taken over by Yorkshire-based construction materials firm Ashcourt Group. Australian investment company L1 Capital has bought Hadrian’s Tower, Newcastle’s tallest building, in a multi-million pound deal. Robson Laidler were named independent firm of the year at the North East Accountancy Awards. KPMG took the national honours. Experienced motors executive Nigel McMinn has become director and majority shareholder in Sunderland-based Pybus Recruitment which supports organisations fill service, sales, accident repair and management roles. Tekmar has secured a £2 million contract to design and make reinforced concrete support structures for a gas pipeline. in the Middle East. Wearsider Mac McEldon has returned to Sunderland via New York, Zurich, London and Washington to launch CiberAI, a firm specialising in agentic automation and enterprise-ready AI solutions. ZIGUP plc, the company formerly known as Northgate, has reported a “strong operational performance” in its most recent financial year, despite a reduction in profits.
Break from the ad break
No TV ad from the past for you this week as The Telegraph has supplied a glorious piece of nostalgia in the form of their Top 20 of the best comedy sketches of all time.
There was no place for Morecambe & Wise’s “Andrew Preview” sketch with the world-famous composer, although their hilarious breakfast dance to the tune of The Stripper made it to No.6.
Alan Partridge at the Races, Ted and Ralph’s drinking game from The Fast Show, Maggie Thatcher calling her Cabinet vegetables on Spitting Image, Gerald the talking gorilla from Not The Nine O’Clock News and Going For An English from Goodness Gracious Me are all in there.
They gave top billing to Monty Python’s Dead Parrot sketch, just ahead of Four Candles by The Two Ronnies.
Here’s another one from Messrs Barker and Corbett which is No.8 in the list - their Mastermind sketch where the specialist subject was “answering the question before last”.
Author Michael Hogan said: “This Two Ronnies gem is a masterclass of clever writing, with every word in its place and every joke working twice”. It’s well worth a watch.
THE WIDER VIEW
Where’s the justice?
“You thought it couldn’t get any worse, but the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British legal history just got wider,” says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde.
The first report from the Post Office IT inquiry made for shocking reading: 1,000 convictions, 13 suicides, 10 serious attempts to take their own life, 10,000 victims eligible for compensation, many self-harmed, many began to abuse alcohol.
“Some numbers haven’t changed, though,” says Hyde. “The tally of people charged for ruining this many thousands of lives still stands at precisely zero.
“Compensation should be full and fair - but so should justice.”
The BBC talked to Betty Brown, 92, from County Durham, who ran the Annfield Plain branch with her late husband Oswall in the 1990s and early 2000s. They spent more than £50,000 of their savings to cover shortfalls that did not exist.
She said the ordeal caused her to lose her voice while the anxiety disrupted her husband's cancer treatment. He died a year after they sold the post office, which they felt forced to do.
“The stress was unbelievable,” she said. “You would go to bed at night and you couldn't sleep.” Betty is still awaiting compensation after being offered just 60% of what she asked for.
The inbetweeners
The Velvet Sundown appeared from nowhere to top the Spotify download charts with their debut album and they now have more than 1 million monthly listeners.
Turns out they are not a band and the music was created using AI as part of an “art hoax”.
After weeks of denying that they were fake, the ‘band’ finally came clean on social media. “The Velvet Sundown is a synthetic music project guided by human creative direction, and composed, voiced, and visualised with the support of artificial intelligence. This isn’t a trick - it’s a mirror. An ongoing artistic provocation designed to challenge the boundaries of authorship, identity, and the future of music itself in the age of AI.
“Not quite human. Not quite machine. The Velvet Sundown lives somewhere in between.”
Space oddity
Thanks to The Knowledge, I now know how many people are in space right now. Ten it seems. There’s a website called How Many People Are In Space Right Now, which not only passes the Ronseal test with flying colours, but lists the astronauts and links to their Wikipedia pages.