TWO North-East MPs have joined a cross party parliamentary group to stress the importance of free ports, which could bring thousands of jobs to the region.

Simon Clarke, Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland, and Labour MP Anna Turley used a Westminster Hall debate earlier this week to make the case of developing a free port at Teesport.

A study unveiled earlier this year that a free port at Teesport that was integrated with existing industry could create in excess of 17,500 jobs and add more than £1bn to the Tees Valley economy.

A further 8,500 jobs could be created if the Port of Tyne also became an integrated tariff-free port, the report by consultancy and construction company Mace found.

A supercharged free port means it would be located around existing industrial clusters that could help “turbo-charge” economic growth and trade, creating thousands of additional jobs.

Redcar Labour candidate Anna Turley. Redcar Labour candidate Anna Turley.

Ms Turley said: “Free port status for Teesside could make the area the gateway of the north, rebalancing the economy and making the region’s manufacturing base more attractive.

“For an area where unemployment is above the national average and many in work have to travel further afield or take insecure jobs, this would be transformative.

“When you look at the country’s largest ports, more than half are in regions suffering from deprivation. They are areas crying out for the inward investment that a free port could draw in.

“Free ports are not a magic pill or a like for like replacement of our current relationship with the EU, which will remain our largest trading partner.”

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Mr Clarke said: “There is every indication that free ports in the UK would be just as successful as they are around the world.

“The study by mace, which was commissioned by Ben Houchen, found that super charged free ports could boost UK trade by almost £12bn a year, create 17,500 in the Tees Valley, and provide a boost to Northern Powerhouse GP of £9bn a year, equivalent to £1,500 for every household in the north.