John speaks to Meika Smiles, Deputy Mayor of Middlesbrough

In the this episode John speaks with former journalist and PR consultant, and now Conservative Deputy Mayor of Middlesbrough, Meika Smiles. She tells John about her Spot on! ideas for education, social mobility and how Middlesbrough is recovering from its bad reputation.

Mieka started her career in journalism, writing for several North-East and national papers. When her children’s school missed out on funding it had been promised, she decided to get involved in local politics. Today, she is deputy mayor of Middlesbrough, a town in North East England - in the heart of the Red Wall.