Sharon Hodgson MP has reacted with anger to the budget review conducted by ONE North East which has removed £33m from help for businesses this financial year. In the words of Paul Callaghan, Chairman of ONE, this will mean that 3,000 fewer jobs and 700 fewer businesses will be created in the region - a huge blow.  

Sharon Hodgson said: "One North East have had an extremely difficult task - effectively being forced to unpick all the good work they have been doing over the last few years to satisfy the Coalition's lust for arbitrary cuts.

"As Paul Callaghan says, this will have a devastating effect on Sunderland and the whole of the North East, both now and for years to come. Quite how Ministers can say they want the private sector to compensate for the inevitable loss of jobs in the public sector, and then remove vital assistance to help businesses get started and stay afloat is beyond belief.

"A good example is Business Link - this service helped 845 businesses in my constituency alone last year, yet now the Government are winding it up across the country. Where is the sense in that?"