• Contact
  • About
  • Authors
DONATE
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
  • Login
North East Bylines
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Brexit
    • Education
    • Environment
    • European News
    • Health
    • Politics
    • Science
    • UK News
    • World News
    "Molly Scott Cato in Bristol" by Bristol Green Party is marked with CC0 1.0.

    Government loses sight of climate crisis as energy windfall tax encourages rise in fossil fuel investment

    Silhouette of family

    Cost of living crisis: a fundamental rethink is needed to support families in the North East

    American flag with gun, apple and pencils

    A star spangled lullaby

    Map showing British Empire in 1886

    Three imperial policies that still influence life in Britain today

    Anna Bird CEO EMUK

    European Movement describes failures of leadership and a toxic culture at the centre of Number 10

    Civic Centre, Hartlepool

    Hartlepool Tories attend council meeting despite declaration of a boycott in the Cranney case

    Fishing protest

    Troubled waters: the forces behind the death of the Tees

    Georgian flag

    The British Isles and Georgia: opposite corners of Europe connected

    Women wearing surgical masks 1919

    Spanish flu: the mother of all pandemics

    Trending Tags

    • Ukraine
  • Culture
    • All
    • Animation
    • Books
    • Illustrations & More
    • Music
    • Performance
    • Poetry
    • Social Media
    • Theatre
    • TV & Radio
    A way home promo photo

    A Way Home: the true story of Durham’s category ‘D’ villages brought to life in new play

    American flag with gun, apple and pencils

    A star spangled lullaby

    Georgian flag

    The British Isles and Georgia: opposite corners of Europe connected

    Three Tall Women

    Three Tall Women at the People’s Theatre

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    Meat feast pizza

    Bella Italia launches new menu

    Ukrainian necklace

    Ukrainian Cultural Heritage: jewellery, accessories and some morale boosting art

    Leek and mushroom bake

    Leek and mushroom bake

    Byker children in community planting

    Byker Community Planting: growing food in a safe space in the city

    Ukrainian embroidery from Goodz

    Ukrainian Vyshyvanka: traditional embroidery

    Helen Hrynenko in traditional Ukrainian dress

    Ukrainian fashion: getting ready for Vyshyvanka Day

    Chana Bhuna

    Chana Bhuna

    dal

    Dal: delicious with yoghurt and chapatis

    chia seeds

    Chia egg cake

    Trending Tags

    • Business
      • All
      • Economy
      • Rural
      • Technology
      • Voluntary Sector
      Fishing protest

      Troubled waters: the forces behind the death of the Tees

      Renault Twizy

      Driving in style with my Renault Twizy

      office with computers

      Cyber-attacks, ransomware and the dark web

      man working from home in bed

      Is working from home good for business?

      Greggs coffee cup

      Tales from Greggs: celebrating a North East business

      Cold hands on radiator

      Fuel poverty is a serious problem for the North East

      Hannah Hauxwell in documentary Too long a Winter

      Hannah Hauxwell: How an isolated daleswoman became a national icon

      Message about Universal Basic Income

      Universal basic income: a moral necessity

      Job interview

      Hiring friends and family might actually be good for business says new research

      Trending Tags

      • Region
        • All
        • Co. Durham
        • North East
        • Northumberland
        • Teesside
        • Tyneside
        • Wearside
        Silhouette of family

        Cost of living crisis: a fundamental rethink is needed to support families in the North East

        Civic Centre, Hartlepool

        Hartlepool Tories attend council meeting despite declaration of a boycott in the Cranney case

        Father and child in Newcastle

        Newcastle ranks among Europe’s top 20 cities for raising children

        Refugees welcome sign

        Tyneside groups pledge to carry on fight against government’s anti-refugee laws

        Jimmy Carter saying Howay the lads to the crowd with Jim Callaghan to his left and the lord mayor, Hugh White is just behind him.

        Time to remember the 45th anniversary of American President Jimmy Carter’s visit to Newcastle

        Open day with the fire service at South Shields

        A peek behind the fire curtain with TWFRS at South Shields open day

        Seaham Conservative Club

        ‘Death match’ wrestling at Seaham Conservative Club is under investigation

        Richard Holden

        Richard Holden, MP and Beergate: those who live by the smear fall by the same

        Eton schoolboys

        Middlesbrough schools may get little from Eton’s advances except a peek into how an elitist bunfight can spiral out

        Trending Tags

        • Opinion
          Titanic coming out of Southampton

          The 110th anniversary of the Titanic’s departure

          There is an England

          There is an England

          Prime Minister Boris Johnson signs the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union"

          The parody of disinformation: Boris Johnson on Ukraine and Brexit

          Boris Johnson’s comments on Ukraine and Brexit are an insult

          TV Agency staff jumping in the air

          The TV Agency celebrates 10th anniversary with global success

          North East of County Dublin

          North East of England and North East of County Dublin: Compare and contrast

          North Sea oil rig

          Copping out of COP: Ukraine, fossil fuels and nuclear fusion

          Placard with Boris Johnson as a clown

          Dictators, media and mobility: erosion of identity, sustenance and safety

          close up on a child's eye

          Racism and misogyny where there should have been safeguarding and security

        No Result
        View All Result
        • Home
        • News
          • All
          • Brexit
          • Education
          • Environment
          • European News
          • Health
          • Politics
          • Science
          • UK News
          • World News
          "Molly Scott Cato in Bristol" by Bristol Green Party is marked with CC0 1.0.

          Government loses sight of climate crisis as energy windfall tax encourages rise in fossil fuel investment

          Silhouette of family

          Cost of living crisis: a fundamental rethink is needed to support families in the North East

          American flag with gun, apple and pencils

          A star spangled lullaby

          Map showing British Empire in 1886

          Three imperial policies that still influence life in Britain today

          Anna Bird CEO EMUK

          European Movement describes failures of leadership and a toxic culture at the centre of Number 10

          Civic Centre, Hartlepool

          Hartlepool Tories attend council meeting despite declaration of a boycott in the Cranney case

          Fishing protest

          Troubled waters: the forces behind the death of the Tees

          Georgian flag

          The British Isles and Georgia: opposite corners of Europe connected

          Women wearing surgical masks 1919

          Spanish flu: the mother of all pandemics

          Trending Tags

          • Ukraine
        • Culture
          • All
          • Animation
          • Books
          • Illustrations & More
          • Music
          • Performance
          • Poetry
          • Social Media
          • Theatre
          • TV & Radio
          A way home promo photo

          A Way Home: the true story of Durham’s category ‘D’ villages brought to life in new play

          American flag with gun, apple and pencils

          A star spangled lullaby

          Georgian flag

          The British Isles and Georgia: opposite corners of Europe connected

          Three Tall Women

          Three Tall Women at the People’s Theatre

        • Lifestyle
          • All
          • Fashion
          • Food & Drink
          • Health & Fitness
          Meat feast pizza

          Bella Italia launches new menu

          Ukrainian necklace

          Ukrainian Cultural Heritage: jewellery, accessories and some morale boosting art

          Leek and mushroom bake

          Leek and mushroom bake

          Byker children in community planting

          Byker Community Planting: growing food in a safe space in the city

          Ukrainian embroidery from Goodz

          Ukrainian Vyshyvanka: traditional embroidery

          Helen Hrynenko in traditional Ukrainian dress

          Ukrainian fashion: getting ready for Vyshyvanka Day

          Chana Bhuna

          Chana Bhuna

          dal

          Dal: delicious with yoghurt and chapatis

          chia seeds

          Chia egg cake

          Trending Tags

          • Business
            • All
            • Economy
            • Rural
            • Technology
            • Voluntary Sector
            Fishing protest

            Troubled waters: the forces behind the death of the Tees

            Renault Twizy

            Driving in style with my Renault Twizy

            office with computers

            Cyber-attacks, ransomware and the dark web

            man working from home in bed

            Is working from home good for business?

            Greggs coffee cup

            Tales from Greggs: celebrating a North East business

            Cold hands on radiator

            Fuel poverty is a serious problem for the North East

            Hannah Hauxwell in documentary Too long a Winter

            Hannah Hauxwell: How an isolated daleswoman became a national icon

            Message about Universal Basic Income

            Universal basic income: a moral necessity

            Job interview

            Hiring friends and family might actually be good for business says new research

            Trending Tags

            • Region
              • All
              • Co. Durham
              • North East
              • Northumberland
              • Teesside
              • Tyneside
              • Wearside
              Silhouette of family

              Cost of living crisis: a fundamental rethink is needed to support families in the North East

              Civic Centre, Hartlepool

              Hartlepool Tories attend council meeting despite declaration of a boycott in the Cranney case

              Father and child in Newcastle

              Newcastle ranks among Europe’s top 20 cities for raising children

              Refugees welcome sign

              Tyneside groups pledge to carry on fight against government’s anti-refugee laws

              Jimmy Carter saying Howay the lads to the crowd with Jim Callaghan to his left and the lord mayor, Hugh White is just behind him.

              Time to remember the 45th anniversary of American President Jimmy Carter’s visit to Newcastle

              Open day with the fire service at South Shields

              A peek behind the fire curtain with TWFRS at South Shields open day

              Seaham Conservative Club

              ‘Death match’ wrestling at Seaham Conservative Club is under investigation

              Richard Holden

              Richard Holden, MP and Beergate: those who live by the smear fall by the same

              Eton schoolboys

              Middlesbrough schools may get little from Eton’s advances except a peek into how an elitist bunfight can spiral out

              Trending Tags

              • Opinion
                Titanic coming out of Southampton

                The 110th anniversary of the Titanic’s departure

                There is an England

                There is an England

                Prime Minister Boris Johnson signs the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union"

                The parody of disinformation: Boris Johnson on Ukraine and Brexit

                Boris Johnson’s comments on Ukraine and Brexit are an insult

                TV Agency staff jumping in the air

                The TV Agency celebrates 10th anniversary with global success

                North East of County Dublin

                North East of England and North East of County Dublin: Compare and contrast

                North Sea oil rig

                Copping out of COP: Ukraine, fossil fuels and nuclear fusion

                Placard with Boris Johnson as a clown

                Dictators, media and mobility: erosion of identity, sustenance and safety

                close up on a child's eye

                Racism and misogyny where there should have been safeguarding and security

              No Result
              View All Result
              North East Bylines
              No Result
              View All Result
              Home Business

              Ben Houchen, the tale of Teesside Airport, and the lexicon of the new right

              Where opacity means transparency, and jam tomorrow means jam today.

              Scott Hunter by Scott Hunter
              19-04-2021 11:28
              in Business, Economy, North East, Politics, Teesside
              The original uploader was Adambro at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons

              The original uploader was Adambro at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons

              Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
              ADVERTISEMENT

              Where opacity means transparency, and jam tomorrow means jam today

              Ben Houchen’s PR machine has gone into overdrive this weekend, with an article in the Northern Echo, to get the message out to voters that the management of Teesside Airport is a model of transparency, and therefore there is no lack of accountability, and anyone who says otherwise is guilty of “naked politicking and hypocrisy.” 

              It began when Houchen’s opponent in the mayoral election, Jessie Joe Jacobs, claimed precisely the opposite, and insisted that people had a right to know how their money was being spent and that the organisation should be more transparent. 

              In November 2020, Tees Valley Monitor (TVM) reported that the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) had prepared a business plan based on a report by consultants ICF. These observed that only the public sector has the appetite to invest in regional airports. This had been found previously by the consultants to the Welsh government in the run up to its purchase of Cardiff Airport. Both consultancy reports consider that the private owners of these airports (Peel Group in the case of Teesside) were unable to attract investors in commercial markets, and both airports went into decline as a result.

              This becomes, in the language of Houchen’s PR team, “For years the Labour Party ran our airport into the ground with Peel”. Put it in other words: Peel Group wanted their business to lose money, and they achieved this with the help of the Labour Party. Or, alternatively, Labour wanted the airport to fail, and Peel Group was happy to oblige. Either way, we are to believe that it was a deliberate act of sabotage. Right.

              Later in November TVM reported that one of the differences between Cardiff Airport and Teesside is that Cardiff is 100% publicly owned, while Teesside is 75% in public ownership. This because the airport company at Teesside (TIAL) was set up as a joint venture partnership between TVCA and Stobart Aviation. One side-effect is that the airport company is not subject to freedom of information legislation, as this only applies to companies that are 100% publicly owned. Therefore, the public has no access to information about Teesside International Airport Ltd’s affairs

              And the Houchen-PR-speak for this? “There is not a more transparent airport in the country”.  Now, this may seem odd at first, until you work out that Cardiff doesn’t count because, even though it’s 100% in public ownership, it’s in Wales. Fully publicly owned Glasgow Prestwick is also in another country. So that statement is true. The fact that all of England’s airports have exactly the same status with regard to FOI means that the statement “there is not a less transparent airport in the country” is equally true. But Houchen’s PR team omits to mention that.

              And there’s the matter of the internal structure of the airport enterprise.

              In December, TVA examined how oversight of TIAL is managed from the inside. We noted that, here, as at Cardiff, one company has been set up to manage the airport, and another to hold the shares in that company. In Wales, the holding company scrutinises the work of the airport company on behalf of the Welsh government, and the boards of the two companies are entirely separate.  At Teesside the holding company, Goosepool 2019, can’t do that because it shares directors with TIAL. So, if it scrutinised the work of TIAL, that would amount to marking their own homework.  So, there are scrutiny committees instead. 

              And In PR-speak? “There is accountability … Reports of the airport come back to councillors who are Labour, Conservative and Independent”.

              Now that sounds all right until you consider that a properly functioning holding company has the right to obtain information on demand from the companies whose shares it holds. The members of scrutiny committees at Teesside are entitled only to whatever information Houchen, or TIAL, decides to give them. And some of them have been complaining of the lack of information they receive.  A holding company has the ultimate sanction over the companies it controls in that it has the right to appoint or remove directors. A scrutiny committee has no such sanction within its gift.  So, if they encounter a lack of cooperation all they can do is complain.

              Then the PR team gets overexcited.  The article concludes with this:

              “My plea to the voters of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool is ignore the publicity stunt and look at Labour’s record – a lack of investment and running it into the ground and then look at what we have done over the past four years – secured new flights, overhauled the terminal and created jobs for local people. Don’t put all that hard work at risk.”

              It’s as if no one has told the PR team that Houchen was the first elected mayor of the TVCA in 2017 and had no predecessor. Effectively, Labour does not have a ‘record’ in this respect. Houchen, as the first incumbent of the mayoralty, also has a devolved budget to spend on projects in this region that has never existed before.

              As for securing new flights, that has certainly happened, and with much fanfare from PR-Houchen when they are introduced, and silence when they are cancelled. When, two days before the ‘transparency’ article, the Northern Echo reported on the cancellation of the Loganair flight to Dublin, one thing that was noticeable by its absence was any statement from PR-Houchen.  Defence of the action was left entirely to spokespeople for TIAL and Loganair.

              Few would deny that, even before the onslaught of Covid-19, both TIAL and Loganair were operating in a challenging commercial environment, and setbacks were inevitable, but the public might expect some defence of that from the elected mayor who, more any other individual, has been the face of the airport project. That would demonstrate a sense of responsibility.  However, PR has no sense of responsibility towards the electorate. It is there to advertise a product, and the product in this case is Houchen. So, where transparency should be, there is only manipulation.

              As for “creating jobs for local people”, the much-trumpeted figure of 18,000 springs immediately to mind. However, Official figures show that, in the year ending March 2018, 291,800 people were in employment in the Tees Valley. In the year ending March 2020 there were 292,600, an increase of 800 over the period. In 2017-18 employment in this region was 5.8% below the national average.  By 2019 – 2020 the corresponding figure was 6.5% below average. So, it’s absolutely true that jobs have been created for local people.  In a sense.

              ADVERTISEMENT
              Previous Post

              A real musical force on Wearside: Docksuns release their new single ‘So cold love’

              Next Post

              Should the state fund political parties?

              Scott Hunter

              Scott Hunter

              Related Posts

              Silhouette of family
              North East

              Cost of living crisis: a fundamental rethink is needed to support families in the North East

              by North East Bylines
              May 26, 2022
              American flag with gun, apple and pencils
              Poetry

              A star spangled lullaby

              by Harry Gallagher
              May 26, 2022
              Map showing British Empire in 1886
              Politics

              Three imperial policies that still influence life in Britain today

              by Hunter Harris
              May 26, 2022
              Anna Bird CEO EMUK
              Politics

              European Movement describes failures of leadership and a toxic culture at the centre of Number 10

              by Yvonne Wancke
              May 25, 2022
              Civic Centre, Hartlepool
              Politics

              Hartlepool Tories attend council meeting despite declaration of a boycott in the Cranney case

              by Julia Mazza
              May 25, 2022
              Next Post
              Photo by Josh Appel from unsplash

              Should the state fund political parties?

              Want to support us?

              Can you help North East Bylines to grow and become more sustainable with a regular donation, no matter how small?  

              DONATE

              Sign up to our newsletter

              If you would like to receive the North East Bylines regular newsletter, straight talking direct to your inbox, click the button below.

              NEWSLETTER

              LATEST

              A way home promo photo

              A Way Home: the true story of Durham’s category ‘D’ villages brought to life in new play

              May 27, 2022
              "Molly Scott Cato in Bristol" by Bristol Green Party is marked with CC0 1.0.

              Government loses sight of climate crisis as energy windfall tax encourages rise in fossil fuel investment

              May 27, 2022
              Silhouette of family

              Cost of living crisis: a fundamental rethink is needed to support families in the North East

              May 26, 2022
              American flag with gun, apple and pencils

              A star spangled lullaby

              May 26, 2022
              Map showing British Empire in 1886

              Three imperial policies that still influence life in Britain today

              May 26, 2022
              Anna Bird CEO EMUK

              European Movement describes failures of leadership and a toxic culture at the centre of Number 10

              May 25, 2022

              MOST READ

              A way home promo photo

              A Way Home: the true story of Durham’s category ‘D’ villages brought to life in new play

              May 27, 2022
              "Molly Scott Cato in Bristol" by Bristol Green Party is marked with CC0 1.0.

              Government loses sight of climate crisis as energy windfall tax encourages rise in fossil fuel investment

              May 27, 2022
              Silhouette of family

              Cost of living crisis: a fundamental rethink is needed to support families in the North East

              May 26, 2022
              American flag with gun, apple and pencils

              A star spangled lullaby

              May 26, 2022

              BROWSE BY TAGS

              Brexit Business Co. Durham Culture democracy Economy Education Environment Food & Drink Health & Care Home Affairs Lifestyle Local Lockdown Northumberland Peace Performance Politics Science Social Media Teesside TV & Radio Tyneside Ukraine Wearside

              North East Bylines is a regional online newspaper that supports citizen journalism. Our aim is to publish well-written, fact-based articles and opinion pieces on subjects that are of interest to people in the North East and beyond.

              Learn more about us

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Contact
              • About
              • Letters
              • Donate
              • Privacy
              • Bylines network
              • Shop

              © 2022 North East Bylines. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Home
              • News
                • Brexit
                • Education
                • Environment
                • UK News
                • Transport
                • World News
              • Politics
              • Opinion
              • Lifestyle
                • Culture
                • Music
                • Poetry
              • Business
                • Economy
                • Technology
                • Trade
              • Donate
              • Newsletter sign up
              • Boriiis Cartoons
              • Authors

              © 2022 North East Bylines. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              Welcome Back!

              Login to your account below

              Forgotten Password?

              Retrieve your password

              Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

              Log In