'Listen to us!' East Durham hairdresser issues heartfelt plea to Labour amid claims the North 'gets left behind'

Susanna Siddell

By Susanna Siddell


Published: 12/02/2026

- 22:30

Watch the moment a Durham hairdresser issued a heartfelt plea to Labour while the hospitality sector lashes out at Labour over business rates hikes.

Alison Brightwell spoke to Patrick Christys today in what once was a Labour heartland in County Durham, calling on the Government to listen to people like her.

Ms Brightwell told GB News: "I think everybody's has been impacted by the taxes. And, you know, we just seem to be getting hammered in certain areas like that, don't we?

"Which is really quite sad and a bit deflating, people having to work a lot longer to be able to claim the pensions and stuff. So things changes like that should, should definitely be something they should listen to us on."

Asked if she felt let down by Westminster politics, she nodded: "I do, I think the North always seems to get a little bit left, left behind when it comes to things like that.

"You know, rents, rates, everything up here for people, which is so sad.

"Our local town and communities were massively impacted. We do get forgotten about up here.

"And I don't think they really realise how we live economically or pay the cost of livings really, you know, rose so high lately and people are struggling."

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