North Tyneside mayoral candidates trade barbs ahead of official hustings
by Austen Shakespeare · ChronicleLiveThe race for the mayorship of North Tyneside is already generating sparks, with candidates trading barbs ahead of official hustings.
Despite the fact voters won't cast their ballots for the next mayor of North Tyneside until May 2025, prospective candidates are already challenging each other's records ahead of official campaign debates.
In response to the Conservative candidate Coun Liam Bones calling for independent hustings and debates, his Labour rival Coun Karen Clark said: "It goes without saying that I will attend hustings organised by independent organisation in the borough, I'll be delighted to attend to present our plan for North Tyneside to build on our record of delivery in the borough.
"The only thing Coun Bones has ever delivered is unfunded spending promises, losing safe Tory seats and 'deceitful attacks' on other councillors. If Coun Bones wants to be taken seriously in his run for mayor he needs to tell us how he's going to pay for his £50 million of unfunded spending promises so far. Is he going to put up council tax by the 34% that would be required to fund them?"
In response, Tory candidate Coun Bones said: "Coun Clark is resorting to personal attacks rather than talking about Labour's track record in office."
Coun Bones went on to claim the current administration had "run the council's finances into ground" and criticised the council's decision to move to a consultation on the closure of Monkseaton High School. The Preston with Preston Grange councillor also criticised the condition of North Tyneside's roads, claiming a "huge backlog" in repairs.
Coun Bones continued: "As the Conservative candidate for mayor I'm offering a fresh start, putting the council back in the service of our residents. It's no wonder they don't like what I have to say, even though they know it's striking a chord with voters who have been forgotten by this administration. The choice is clear, real change with me or managed decline with Labour."
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