Got a TV Licence?

You need one to watch live TV on any channel or device, and BBC programmes on iPlayer. It’s the law.

Find out more
I don’t have a TV Licence.

Live Reporting

All times stated are UK

  1. Thank you for joining us

    That is the end of our live coverage of today's debate between the three candidates hoping to become Tees Valley Mayor.

    You can watch the debate at 22:40 BST tonight on BBC One.

    And you can see the debate as it went out live earlier this morning by clicking on the link below.

  2. Analysis: 'A slugfest with no clear winner'

    Luke Walton

    Political correspondent, BBC North East and Cumbria

    Election-watchers expect the contest to be close. So if today’s fractious debate moves only a few hundred votes one way or the other – it could prove important.

    So who ended the exchange ahead? Hard to say.

    The Conservative incumbent Ben Houchen certainly finished the hour in dominant style – repeating his challenge to Labour over the airport.

    But Labour’s Chris McEwan and Liberal Democrat Simon Thorley were on the front-foot earlier – whether articulating concerns about value for taxpayers' money at Teesworks, or questioning Lord Houchen’s record on local high streets.

    All in all, this slugfest didn’t deliver a clear winner. But it may have changed at least a few minds.

    Tell your friends. It’s worth a watch.

  3. The debate in pictures

    The debate is now over but you can watch it again on BBC iPlayer and on BBC One at 22:40 tonight.

    Here are some pictures from the day.

    Camera focused on three people
    Ben Houchen
    Chris McEwan
    Simon Thorley
    Ben talking
    Chris talking
    Simon talking
    Three men
  4. Final answers on supporting young people

    Ben Houchen said more jobs had to be created to keep young people in the area, and foundations were "in place" but the issue could not be solved "overnight".

    Chris McEwan said there should be skills support reviews at key stages of people's lives, with more certainty for providers.

    Simon Thorley said the Liberal Democrats would introduce "individual learning grounds", so adults could apply for funding from the combined authority to study what they wanted.

    Students walking to school
  5. Question 8: 'How will you help young people?'

    Junior Masandi

    Our eighth and final question comes from Junior Masandi, a marketing apprenticeship mentor from Middlesbrough.

    He says: "I work with a lot of amazing young people, teaching apprenticeships and mentoring them.

    "Even though they are talented, I find that many of them don’t know what the future will hold for them.

    "They are looking for ways to improve their CVs – what will you be doing to support the future prospects of these amazing young people?"

  6. Candidates debate poverty solutions

    Aerial view of a housing estate

    How to fix poverty is a big issue for the candidates.

    Chris McEwan said a "route to resolving" the issue was to "create better paid jobs" and there needed to be a culture of collaboration between the mayor, local councils, NHS and charities.

    Simon Thorley said he was the only candidate with a "concrete" proposal, namely the creation of an annual £25m fund to "directly target child poverty and early years support through specific interventions" although he admitted that would mean less funding for other mayoral projects.

    Ben Houchen said the cause of poverty was a "weak economy and unemployment" and he had been focused on rectifying that since his election in 2017.

    He said Teesside had been "failed" by the government for "50 or 60 years" and it would not be a speedy fix, but there were now "green shoots".

  7. Question 7: 'How will you reduce poverty?'

    Pat McBride

    Pat McBride from the Cause Foundation Charity in Middlesbrough has our seventh question.

    She says: "We provide food at Christmas and holidays, we provide beds and bedding for families in poverty in this area.

    "We’ve seen demand on our services increase two-fold in the last twelve months.

    "What are you going to do to reduce the levels of family poverty in the Tees Valley area?"

  8. Varied views on water quality

    Ben Houchen said the mayor had limited powers on this matter and added die-offs of sea creatures had happened 11 months before any work had started.

    Chris McEwan said he would ask for another independent inquiry into the die-offs and would speak to local fishermen.

    Simon Thorley said the Liberal Democrats would turn water companies into "public benefit corporations" to tackle the sewage crisis.

    Seaton Carew beach
  9. Question 6: 'How will you improve water quality?

    Woman swims in sea at sunset

    Our sixth question comes from Geoff Lilley, a member of Seaton Carew Brass Monkeys Open Water Swimmers.

    He says: "We swim every day of the year, we know the beneficial effects for our health, social lives, the whole thing.

    "However, one of our main concerns is the water quality along the whole of the Tees Valley coast line.

    "What are you going to do to improve the water quality in our coasts and rivers?"

  10. Analysis: Fate of the high street 'a key issue'

    Luke Walton

    Political correspondent, BBC North East and Cumbria

    The fate of the high street is likely to be a key issue in the Tees mayoral contest.

    In communities, including Redcar and Guisborough, plans are afoot to improve and reshape town centres, backed by tens of millions from government regeneration pots.

    But in parts of the Tees Valley, a number of local department stores and shops like Marks and Spencer have closed in recent years. That’s left shoppers frustrated.

    Many say beautifying town centres won’t compensate for the departure of much-loved high street names.