This week, The Northern Agenda podcast takes a look at the North's second big by-election in December to elect a new MP.

After Labour romped to victory in the City of Chester, can they do the same in the Greater Manchester seat of Stretford and Urmston?

Rob Parsons speaks to Local Democracy Reporter Nick Jackson about what's happening ahead of the by-election on Thursday.

And when you hear the Government talking about their much-trumpeted concept of levelling up and its benefits to Northern communities, it's a pretty safe bet they'll be looking at Teesside, that's places like Redcar, Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees.

One of the few areas with anything tangible to show from the Government's flagship domestic agenda, this former industrial area now has a gaggle of Tory MPs where Labour politicians used to be and a Conservative metro mayor hoping to replace the old steel-making jobs with those powered by clean energy.

But are the prospects for Teesside getting any better with all the attention it's had lavished on it by government?

Rob asks Karl Pemberton, the managing director of Active Chartered Financial Planners, based in Stockton-On-Tees) and the Chair of the Institute of Directors in the North East (South).

He looks after business interests in the Tees Valley so is a great person to give us a balanced view on what's going on there.

The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.

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