Jonathan Brash’s Hartlepool Hype: A Case of Taking Credit Where It’s Not Due?
- teessidetoday
- Apr 27
- 5 min read
Hartlepool's Labour MP took to his usual left wing extremist platform to champion projects that he hoped many wouldn't realise were approved by the previous Conservative Council & Government.
27th April 2025
Hartlepool’s MP, Jonathan Brash, recently penned an optimistic column in a local left wing extremist newspaper, proclaiming that “Hartlepool's on the up”, urging residents not to let naysayers dampen the town’s spirit.
Whilst his enthusiasm for Hartlepool’s transformation is commendable, a closer look at the projects he's championing reveals a troubling pattern: and that's Brash appears once again to be claiming credit for initiatives that were largely set in motion by the previous Conservative-Independent coalition council, with some even facing his party’s opposition at the time. This raises questions about the sincerity of his narrative and whether his column is more about political posturing than genuine leadership.
The Projects: A Legacy of the previous Coalition Council
Brash’s column highlights several flagship developments as evidence of Hartlepool’s bright future, including the multimillion-pound upgrade of Northern Studios, the development of a film production village, the redevelopment of the Wesley Chapel, the new Highlight Leisure Centre, and the revitalisation of the decrepit Middleton Grange Shopping Centre. He also points to investments in areas such as the skills academies, the hospital, and cultural institutions like the Museum of Hartlepool. These are undeniably significant projects, but the inconvenient truth is that many of these projects were in fact initiated, funded, or in some cases, agreed upon under the previous Conservative-Independent coalition council, not Labour’s recent tenure.
Take the Northern Studios and the film production village, for instance. Brash touts these as part of Hartlepool’s emergence as a “creative industries powerhouse.” Yet, the groundwork for this project was laid years ago, with Hartlepool Borough Council securing £16.5 million from the Levelling Up Fund in 2022 under the coalition’s leadership.
Similarly, the redevelopment of The Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, which Brash cites as part of the town’s revitalisation, was actually driven by the Hartlepool Development Corporation (HDC), established in 2021 under the Conservative government. The HDC, backed by central government funding, acquired the shopping centre in 2023 to spearhead its regeneration. Labour, including local figures, expressed scepticism about the HDC at the time, with some councillors questioning its structure and accountability. Now, Brash celebrates the outcome, without acknowledging his party’s initial resistance or the coalition’s role in setting it up
The Wesley Chapel restoration and the Highlight Leisure Centre follow a similar pattern. The Wesley project, which entered its internal fit-out phase in January 2025, was funded through a mix of government grants and council commitments made under the previous administration. The leisure centre, meanwhile, was part of a broader regeneration strategy approved by the coalition council, with contracts and funding secured before Labour took control. Brash’s column frames these as part of a Labour-led “extraordinary transformation,” but the reality is that his party inherited these projects, not initiated them....
Selective Optimism and Omitted Challenges
Brash’s column is not just about trying to take the credit for other peoples achievements; it’s about crafting a selectively positive narrative. He mentions £50 million from Strabag for a tunnel segment factory and investments in schools and family hubs, but glosses over the fact that these, too, were often tied to prior agreements made by the previous coalition council or from external funding previously approved by the former elected council, not Labour’s direct intervention. For example, the rebuilding of St Helen’s Primary School and the £6.8 million for the Museum of Hartlepool were actually part of Levelling Up Fund allocations secured by the coalition council. Brash’s role therefore seems more about ribbon-cutting than deal-making.
Moreover, his call to “not let anyone talk us down” sidesteps Hartlepool’s real challenges, which he acknowledges only ever in passing. The town's facing significant setbacks, from devastating fires at landmarks like the Odeon Cinema, Wesley Chapel & even the former Eskimo Joes public house to ongoing issues such as crime and poverty. The numerous reports highlighting Hartlepool's struggles with obscene levels of poverty, crime & deprivation compounded by Brash's laser guided focusing on high-profile projects that none of his party ever had anything to do with risks alienating residents who feel the daily grind of these unresolved issues & its not gone unnoticed by his political opponents, who now see Brash as a 'bandwagon jumper', who's trying anything he can to claim credit for anything positive done in Hartlepool, even if it hasnt had anything to do with him, as he knows opposition parties like Reform UK are snapping at his heels until their sore.
The Political Play: Labour’s Rebranding of Coalition Wins
Brash’s column reads like a calculated & desperate attempt to rebrand the coalition’s legacy as Labour’s triumph as Reform UK inches ever closer towards taking away what Labour so desperately tried to regain some five years ago & that's their Red Wall Stronghold, ever more apparent now with the local and national elections just days away. His personal anecdotes—his father’s 33 years as a GP, his mother’s work as a midwife—add a relatable touch, but they also serve to anchor his image as Hartlepool’s champion. This is classic political manoeuvring: align yourself with visible successes, obscure their origins, and rally the public with upbeat slogans.
What’s particularly worrying is that Labour’s historical opposition to some of these projects. The Hartlepool Development Corporation, for instance, faced fierce criticism from Labour councillors who argued it lacked local accountability. Now, Brash celebrates its achievements without a hint of irony. This 'flip-flop' that would even make his boss Keir Starmer blush significantly undermines his credibility and suggests a willingness to prioritise political points over transparency
If Brash truly ever wanted Hartlepool to be “on the up,” he could start by giving credit where it’s due.
Acknowledge the coalition’s role, admit Labour’s initial objections, and focus on what he’s actually delivering—new policies, new funding, new ideas. Hartlepool’s people are generally savvy enough to see through the Mandelson Style spin, and they deserve an MP who respects their intelligence.
In the end, Hartlepool’s transformation is a collective effort, not a one-man show. Brash’s column may rally some spirits, mostly those of the Left Wing, but it risks alienating those who know the real story. If he wants to lead, he should do so with honesty, & not by rewriting the past to suit his party’s narrative.
