Newcastle Labour has condemned the Liberal Democrats after their motion to withdraw from the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility (TVERF) deal was forced through at Council, with the Lord Mayor shamefully breaking long-standing tradition by using his casting vote.

The decision leaves Newcastle exposed to an immediate, unbudgeted bill running into the millions. It destabilises the Council’s finances and damages the city’s reputation in the market.

The Council’s Chief Finance Officer has been clear: Newcastle has the highest disposal costs of all seven partner authorities, meaning our city had the most to gain from the TVERF deal and the most to lose from walking away. Despite this professional advice, the Lib Dems ignored the facts and chose political stunts over responsibility.

Councillor Alex Hay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said:

“The Lib Dems have played politics with Newcastle’s future. Ignoring the clear warning from the Council’s most senior finance officer is reckless and will leave residents with a multi-million pound bill we cannot afford. They have jeopardised the city’s finances, put long-term waste services at risk for short-term political gain, and damaged Newcastle’s reputation with partners and investors.

At a time when stability and strong leadership are needed, they have chosen to destabilise the Council and put essential services at risk. This shows once again that they cannot be trusted to run the Council. Labour will always act responsibly to protect our city’s finances and deliver the services residents rely on.”

The Liberal Democrats have left Newcastle residents facing higher costs, reduced certainty, and lasting reputational damage at the very moment the city needs stability and strong leadership. Labour will continue to act responsibly, provide strong leadership, and stand up for residents while the Lib Dems play games with the city’s future.