The region's Tory MPs have praised the Prime Minister for reaffirming her commitment to the triple lock on pensions - but opposition members have criticised Liz Truss's performance after a bruising round of Prime Minister's Questions.
Responding to a question from the SNP's Ian Blackford, Ms Truss committed to the triple-lock on pensions, meaning the state pension will increase in line with the 10.1% inflation figure from April, after being threatened with a backbench revolt. It comes just hours after the PM's spokesman said she was "not making any commitments" on Government spending. Foreign secretary James Cleverly told the BBC he could not give people "certainty" over how much their pensions would increase next year on Wednesday morning.
The pensions triple lock gurantees that pension payments will rise by either prices, average wages or 2.5% - whichever is highest. North West Durham MP Richard Holden said the move was "the right decision in line with the manifesto I was elected on."
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Fellow Durham MP Paul Howell, who represents Sedgefield, also backed the pledge. He said: "Today the Prime Minister has confirmed that the Triple Lock will be protected, as has always been the case. Our manifesto pledged to maintain the Triple Lock and I am completely committed to upholding that promise."
Their support came before news broke that Suella Braverman has 'departed' as home secretary, with Grant Shapps tipped to take over. There is no word on whether Braverman has sacked or resigned.
But opposition MPs were far more critical despite a public apology from the Prime Minister in her first PMQs session since her economic plan was ditched by new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. The Prime Minister told MPs: “I have been very clear that I am sorry and that I have made mistakes.”
On Monday, Mr Hunt reversed almost all of the tax cuts announced by his predecessor, Kwasi Kwarteng, in September as he sought to calm financial markets following weeks of turbulence. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer mocked Ms Truss, saying: “What’s the point of a Prime Minister whose promises don’t even last a week?”
Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle Central, was highly critical of the Prime Minsiter's showing. She said: "That performance was painful, Truss has no authority even in her own party and yet the Tories are keeping her in office. This is a crisis made in Downing St but it is working people who pay."
The Prime Minister is battling to retain her position and has risked a fresh fight with Tory MPs by making a vote on a Labour motion on fracking a test of confidence in her administration. She told MPs “I am a fighter, not a quitter” as she battled to save her job – echoing the 2001 declaration made by Labour grandee Peter Mandelson.
Responding to that remark on social media, South Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck wrote: "If the PM is a "fighter not a quitter", why doesn't she put her money where her mouth is and fight a General Election?" Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery simply tweeted: "This is horrible. It really really is."
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