A Conservative cabinet member of Northumberland County Council has suggested that the lower cost of living in the North East means wages don't need to be as high as they are in the capital.
Coun Jeff Watson made the comments at a meeting of the council's health and wellbeing board during a discussion on a health needs assessment on benefits and debt advice in Northumberland.
The board had heard from public health registrar Dr Kathryn Bush highlighting the impact of financial issues on people's health. A report on the assessment, published on the council's website, pointed out that the North East has the lowest median weekly earnings in the country.
