North East and Cumbria: Northern Identity Crisis?

Damian O'Neil Politics Show, North East and Cumbria

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I would like to leave this city
This old town don't smell too pretty.

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Northern Identity Crisis?

Our country might be relatively small, but it can make a lot of noise when it wants to.

You're my besht mate, you are

President Bush was fulsome in his expressions of friendship

On a global scale, you can see this when George Bush stands up and declares, like a tipsy best man at a wedding, that Britain is America's closest friend.

Other European leaders might sneer at this, but some might argue they are insanely jealous of Blair's (and by extension Britain's) influence at the highest levels.

Did you spill my pint?

And if we have a strong sense of Self at the level of presidents and kings, it is in no way diminished in the provinces and shires.

The homespun Geordie will no more struggle to tell you where he is from than will the Cockney Sparrer who has never been out of earshot of Bow Bells.

Experience has shown that a strong sense of regional identity is very important to most people.

Britain has a diverse history; this goes a long way to help reinforce those identities. But the strength of this feeling varies.

Take Teesside. Or should that be Cleveland? Or is it Tees Valley?

It is a very important part of the North East.

• It has a vast industrial hinterland
• good road links
• an airport, although these days even that has an identity crisis.

Should it be called Teesside International or Durham Tees Valley?

Fog on the Tyne, smog on the Tees

Good bits nestle close to a grotty petrochemical wasteland

It also boasts some wonderful scenery, but even the area's staunchest defenders would not argue that the good bits nestle uncomfortably close to some very grotty petrochemical wasteland.

To many people, much of Teesside is synonymous with the worst traditions of the industrial North East.

At local derby football matches, witty away fans often wear smog masks in the Riverside stadium.

But Teesside is working hard to fix its rather unfortunate image.

Big attractions like the replica of Captain Cook's ship Endeavour showed that thousands of people will visit the area if given good reason.

Home Rule the answer?

John Prescott, lover of ropey old Jaguars and regional government for all, hinted recently that he thought Teesside had lagged behind its northerly neighbour, Tyneside, in a number of respects.

Is he right? If so, how much of it is the fault of people like him? What's he going to do about it?

Politics Show

Join us on the Politics Show this Sunday for a special edition, brought to you live from the Cellnet Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough.

We won't be watching any football, but we will have a lively panel of the local great and good, all eager to tell you what's great about Teesside, what's not so great and what needs to be done to make everything better.

Would devolution bring about a level playing field for the whole of the North East? Or would it mean jam for Tyneside, and stale bread for the rest?

Let us know what you think.

Have your say

Watch the programme and give us your view.

Send in your comments on the form below.

Join Mary Askew and Tony Baker on the Politics Show this Sunday, November 16, at midday on BBC1.

See more on the story with Mary Askew and Tony Baker, on the Politics Show, on Sunday 16 November at midday on BBC1.

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