Minister's plea to North East voters as payments for former mineworkers and pit staff arrive after long campaign

A NORTH East Government minister has said he understands the upset in many of the region's communities as Reform UK continues to poll strongly.

- JAMES ROBINSON Local democracy reporter [e-mail]

However, Stockton North MP Chris McDonald was hopeful that the public would judge the Labour Government on its results when voters next go to the polls.

Mr McDonald was speaking ahead of the first increased pension payments for almost 40,000 former mineworkers and pit staff coming just in time for Christmas. More than 4,200 people in the North East are set to benefit but it comes as many former mining communities in the likes of Durham and Northumberland are turning towards Nigel Farage’s party.

Speaking on the uplift to the The Journal, Mr McDonald, who is Minister for Industry in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Business and Trade said: “I think it will have a massive impact.

“A lot of the pensioners are on quite low pensions. This is £100 extra a week backdated to November 2024, so members will receive £5,500 each just in time for Christmas.