Badenoch’s geography is all foggy on the Tyne — or is it the Tees?

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ometimes, as an electorate, we have absurd expectations of our political leaders.

And yet there are some things that should be a given for our representatives in this fair and twisted land. Things like, you know, British geography. And, more specifically, British geography outside London.

The business secretary, Kemi Badenoch, was the latest to fumble. While visiting British Steel’s Lackenby site on Monday, she tweeted that she was joined by “newly re-elected Conservative mayor for Tyne Tees, Ben Houchen”.

The new (and first) North East mayor, Kim McGuinness, was quick to point out that “the Tyne is approximately 45 miles north of the Tees — some way out of Ben Houchen’s patch”, while others confirmed that, yes, Tyne Tees is the regional telly channel.