No place for hate and division in the North East, says mayor

NORTH East mayor Kim McGuinness has told a new political party set to launch in Newcastle this weekend that it offers nothing to the region.

- GRAEME WHITFIELD Journal editor [e-mail]

Advance UK - a party formed by former members of Reform UK and backed by Tommy Robinson and X owner Elon Musk - is planning to launch in Newcastle on Saturday.

The party's plans have been disrupted, however, after its planned venue, the Crowne Plaza hotel, cancelled its booking on health and safety grounds.

The hotel has been owned since March by Newcastle City Council though it is run by a separate company.

Advance's leader Ben Habib has vowed to go ahead with a launch in Newcastle, which his party said was the “symbolic heart of Brexit” despite the fact that the city voted in favour of remaining in the EU.