Theresa May woos north-east England with powerhouse talk

Prime minister uses Gateshead trip to reaffirm commitment to promoting growth in north

Theresa May has reaffirmed her plans to bolster the northern powerhouse as she kicked off a summer campaign intended to win support for her much-criticised Chequers plan for Brexit at home and abroad.

The prime minister chaired a cabinet meeting in Gateshead on Monday before meeting factory workers for a rare town hall-style event, while her ministers fanned out across the region on a series of visits to businesses and public institutions.

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