What government has been doing, we've got major programmes now, of billions of pounds, which are directed by central government into these areas of deprivation.

That's what I think regions are about, making central government more accountable and fairer.

You go down some street - no doubt it's there, and we have to do something about it, and our programmes are designed to do that - but if that's a picture of Newcastle, it's not the one I recognise and I bet none in the North East do either.

I've been in situations where I was the only black guy. We're in a time now where nobody wants to see that. But it still happens.

The intensity of your desire governs the power with which the force is directed.

We believe the 36, nearly 40, billion pound discount given for a right to buy houses took a million houses out of the public housing sector which is desperately needed for rent.