North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has today written to new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him and set out priorities for the region to work with the new government.
The North East Mayor is set for a meeting with the new Prime Minister at Downing Street alongside other Metro Mayors tomorrow (Tues).
The new Prime Minister has already indicated his commitment to devolving powers to regions and will discuss this with Mayors, as well as hearing about regional priorities.
But ahead of this, Kim has written to urge the Prime Minister Keir Starmer to urgently work together with her and the North East Combined Authority to take immediate action to save and create jobs and end disadvantage.
The Mayor has written to the PM setting out some priority areas which if backed by the new Government will help deliver on Kim’s recent manifesto promise to make the North East the home of real opportunity.
The Mayor has highlighted immediate steps Ministers could take to protect and create thousands of good jobs, tackle child poverty and deliver improvements in the region’s public transport, in support of her regional priorities.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “I vowed to fight for the North East on the national stage and end the days where our region is overlooked.
“So today I am wasting no time in both extending my heartfelt congratulations to the new Prime Minister and in asking him and his Cabinet to work together with me on making the North East the home of real opportunity.
“The North East cannot afford to wait if we are to make that vision a reality.
“I’m delighted that the Prime Minister has shown such early commitment to devolution and I’m very much looking forward to our meeting at Downing Steet.”
The Mayor’s key expectations of the new Government are:
- Immediate action to safeguard the future of Hitachi and 800 rail jobs in the region, by bringing forward government contracts for new rolling stock.
- Supporting efforts to tackle child poverty. Over a third of children in the North East live in poverty, the second highest rate in the country. The new government should work with the mayor and back the North East as a pilot area to reverse rising child poverty.
- Better public transport now. By speeding up the process to create the Angel Network and fast-tracking plans to bring buses under public control. The government should also commit to the reopening of the Leamside Line, a crucial rail link which will unlock regeneration, jobs and connect local people to opportunities across the region.
- Expanding the North East’s green economy. Backing the region’s expertise in offshore wind, through investment in ports, infrastructure and businesses looking to invest in the region and create thousands of good green jobs.
- Going further and faster on devolution. Opening discussions on a new devolution deal for the region, taking control of more powers from London over adult skills and apprenticeships, rail services and stations, housing and handing power to communities – so people feel the benefits of devolution and more control over their lives.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness added: “I have set out practical and immediate steps the new administration can take to make progress on the issues crucial to our region's future. I believe with more of a say for local people and more decisions made in the region, we’ll be best equipped to create opportunity and fight child poverty.
“It’s been great to work with the Prime Minster and the new Cabinet on policy during our recent campaigns and I now look forward to continuing to work closely with them in Government to support our ambitions and unlock the potential of our people and places here in the North East.”