We must not lose sight of successes, says minister

MINISTER for the North East Nick Brown has warned the region must not lose sight of its successes even if they are not always visible to the "cold, analytical eye of an outsider".

Mr Brown played down concerns over the region’s vulnerability to the recession and instead suggested the growing renewable energy sector offered real long-term growth for thousands of North East workers.

In an introduction to the think tank report, the Newcastle East and Wallsend MP has put his faith in so-called "green collar" renewable energy jobs as a way of turning round the local economy.

Mr Brown told those putting together the North East economic study: "Perhaps the most exciting single development is the prospect of a UK centre of excellence for renewable energy on the North bank of the Tyne.

"Located in the old shipbuilding and ship repair yards, there is a real prospect of creating something like 4,000 jobs on the back of an offshore wind farm industry."

And in a sign of how important tourism has becoming to the thousands of North East families dependent upon it for a living, Mr Brown said even more should be done to build on the region’s unique heritage.

He singled out the campaign to bring back the Lindisfarne Gospels as one of the region’s many reasons to be proud.

Mr Brown said: "This pride in the region’s achievements and its history is exemplified by the campaign to rescue the Lindisfarne Gospels from the vaults of the British Library and to showcase them to the world in their proper home in Durham Cathedral.

"When the Gospels were last allowed into the North East on loan they attracted record visitor numbers. The region kept them safe during the Viking invasions, so it’s safe to say we can look after them now."