'The voters are frustrated...but there's still an opportunity to win people back'

VICTORIOUS Tory Mayor Ben Houchen said Conservatives wanted an "excuse" to be able to back the party again and insisted it must deliver for the public.

- Sam Lister

And the peer, who secured a third term in Tees Valley, admitted were frustrated with voters his party.

Lord Houchen's win was a bright spot for the Tories on a difficult day of local election losses.

He said: "There's still that opportunity to win people back."

Opponents claimed he had campaigned as an independent rather than a Tory. But the Mayor said: "People know round here I'm a Conservative.

"Thankfully, what we've seen today is they also know that I'm a Teessider, and I'll put Teesside first, I'll put local people first and I'll do what's best for the local area." He thanked Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his help. He said: "Rishi's been a huge supporter of Teesside over the last few years.

"We wouldn't have been able to deliver all these things if it weren't for him so absolutely it's a shared effort. But again I'll work with anybody who will help me deliver for local people and Rishi is doing just that."

The peer said that included working with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer if he became Prime Minister.

Lord Houchen secured 53.6% of the vote to 41.3% for Labour's Chris McEwan and 5% for Liberal Democrat Simon Thorley. Although the Mayor won a comfortable majority of 12.3%, that's considerably lower than the 45.5% majority he took over Labour in 2021 when he garnered 73% of the vote.