‘You’d be ashamed to bring someone here’: The struggling billionaire-owned high street that shows Reform’s road to No 10

The Guardian - World NewsEN 12 min read 100% complete by Words by Josh Halliday, graphic by Anna Leach and Prina Shah, photography by Chris ThomondJanuary 28, 2026 at 11:02 AM

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long article 12 min

Newton Aycliffe, a town in County Durham, England, was established in the late 1940s as a postwar utopia envisioned by William Beveridge. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the town in 1960, symbolizing a new era of prosperity. However, nearly 80 years later, the town's main shopping precinct, Beveridge Way, tells a different story, with over half of its shops now vacant, far exceeding the national average. The decline reflects a loss of industry and essential services like banks, leaving residents feeling ashamed of the current state compared to its once-thriving past. The town's struggles highlight broader economic challenges and a departure from its original promise.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United Kingdom 30% Phoenix working men’s club 30% Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor 40% Darlington ×250% Great Britain 60% William Beveridge ×270% County Durham ×270% Newton Aycliffe ×480% Elizabeth II ×490%

Keywords

high street decline 90% newton aycliffe 80% postwar britain 70% economic decline 70% beveridge way 60% new town 60% welfare state 50% queen elizabeth ii 50% industrial wasteland 40%