EDITOR'S VIEW: Nigel Farage proves unlikely cheerleader for Labour's flagship South Shields project

Labour councillors in South Shields have found themselves an unlikely cheerleader ahead of the May elections - a certain Nigel Farage.

Clad in trademark waxed jacket and corduroys, the Reform UK leader strode up King Street during a flying visit to South Shields and promptly sang the praises of Labour’s flagship town centre project.

The Clacton MP and his entourage pressed the flesh and chatted to folk (no babies were kissed we’re reliably informed) along the high street before declaring South Shields ‘a town in decline.’ Charming. No surprise there - but, rather bizarrely, he eyed the building work bringing South Tyneside College into the centre of town and branded it “terrific.”

“That is going to bring a lot of young people back into the street,” he enthused. “That is good news.”

He stopped short of pulling out a red rosette and bellowing ‘Well done Labour’ but as a rallying call to Reform voters, it was odd.

Labour-run South Tyneside Council and Labour’s North East Mayor Kim McGuinness are the driving forces behind this £95million project to breathe new life into the high street and reverse the very decline Farage said he’d observed.

He may not have been waving pompoms and performing high kicks - but his cheerleading for the very people he wants out was just as eye-catching.

Parking glad or mad?

What will strike a chord with South Shields shoppers is Farage’s call to scrap parking charges.

Free parking across the town will bring in customers and revitalise the high street, Farage told us. Business owners had apparently warned him that parking charges were ‘killing this place’ and he vowed to do something about it.

Farage had strong words for local Reform candidates: “For goodness sake get rid of parking charges and give this high street and others in this area half a chance.”

Whether scrapping charges is the answer to our town centre ills is a moot point, but if Farage believes that’s the way forward, who’s going to disagree? Well, Reform councillors, for one!

The nearest Reform-run council is just down the road in Durham and this month, despite protestations from city centre businesses, they’ve ramped up all their parking charges.

They must shop differently down there…

And on a lighter note...

It was great to meet up with the brains, and voices, behind two of the leading lights in performance singing, Peter and Susan Jones.

These musical directors have honed the talents of many South Tyneside vocalists through their choir groups, Compass and Tyneside A Cappella, which have performed across the North East to much acclaim. And now they tell me they’re looking for more members.

If you’ve always fancied stretching your vocal cords for pleasure, Peter and Susan would love to hear from you. They’ve recently moved their Compass rehearsal nights from South Shields to just across the border at Enon Baptist Church, Williamson Terrace, in Monkwearmouth. Drop them a line on (0191) 4224203 or visit their website compassacapella.org.uk for more details on how you can take part.

I’ve been sorely tempted to join. Not only is it a social gathering where friendships can be made, but there’s plenty of evidence suggesting that singing can relieve stress, reduce pain and even boost your immune system.

In my case, however, while singing may work wonders for my health, with a voice not too dissimilar to the sound of nails across a blackboard attached to a honking seal, it’s the listener’s wellbeing I fear for most.