Reaction as North East and North Yorkshire back Brexit

Nigel Farage said that the North East would not lose out from the money that comes from the EU. We've got to hold those people's feet to the fire and make sure that happens.

In a sense, the referendum result showed that the people of Redcar and Cleveland want change, that they are no longer prepared to put up with job losses, cost of living rises and public services that are being devastated by Government cuts.

These, I have to emphasis, are matters not controlled by Europe, but the referendum provided and opportunity to kick the government, and kicked it was.

There is really important work underway in the Tees Valley and in Redcar and Cleveland to secure a long-term future of the SSI site, create new jobs, build more homes and invest in new road and rail links.

Government has made commitments to support the Tees Valley both through the devolution deal and the creation of the Mayoral Development Corporation for South Tees - they should make clear that there is no risk to these crucially important projects.

I was surprised. I thought that it would probably be just about be for Remain, but none of us could predict because we have never been down this way before. Personally I was sad when I heard the news but it is our responsibility to work for the good of the nation as a whole.

"I am saddened and disappointed at the decision to leave the EU – but the people of Stockton and across the country have made it abundantly clear that they want change and I will personally work to support their will.

“Communities, including my own in Stockton, have demonstrated that they feel left behind and cut off by the political establishment in Brussels and Westminster. This was a rejection of the status quo by millions of people who are not sharing in the wealth of this country and for whom the economy is not working.

“We’ve seen the failure of the current Government – and the coalition that went before it – to address the needs of post-industrial communities. The time for change is now and government needs to invest in the parts of Britain – like the North East – forgotten for too long.

“There have also been clear concerns about the impact of immigration. On the doorstep in Stockton people made it clear they are fearful of its impact on them and future generations. People are concerned about wages being undercut, and public services under strain. We’ve proposed changes to employment law, but only in government can we tackle issues like zero hours contracts and a ban on agencies only advertising abroad for jobs in Britain, and work to restore our public services.

“What we don’t need is a more right-wing reactionary Tory Government which will cut public services further, sweep away the rights of British workers and drive down wages.”

“Obviously I am disappointed about the result. It was not what I believed was best for the future of our country and our economy. But people have spoken loud and clear. I heard and understood the concerns, indeed the anger, people had throughout this process (and before) and the local result was not unexpected.

Now my priority will be to focus on helping to get best deal for Britain from Brexit. Now we have made this decision, we have got to try and stabilise the economy and build one that works for our region. We need to make sure that Brexit truly does liberate us in this region, as people have voted for, not do us further damage.

Britain is a great country. Teesside is a great area. We have to pull together now to get the best deal. I will be going back down to parliament on Monday and will redouble my efforts to make sure the decisions made work for us.