North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to use his arrival in Downing Street to usher in a “new era of power in the regions”, calling for greater devolution and more control for local leaders.
Mr Burnham officially became Prime Minister on Monday and used his first speech in office to promise an end to rough sleeping and a shift of power away from Westminster. He also announced plans for a new Number 10 North operation to drive a major programme of devolution across England.
Writing to the new Prime Minister on his first day in office, Ms McGuinness said the North East needed bold reforms that would allow local leaders to tackle the cost of living, improve public services and drive economic growth.
She said: “To take us towards a new era of power in the regions, the people of the North East need system change, immediate interventions to tackle the cost of living, and long-term changes that give them hope of a better future.”
The mayor outlined a series of priorities she wants the new government to deliver.
Among them was a call for mayors to be given control over a share of national tax revenues, describing fiscal devolution as the next major step in the devolution agenda.
She also urged the government to provide long-term funding for regional bus fares and continue support for fare caps. Bus fares in the North East are currently capped at £2.50, lower than the £3 national cap.
Ms McGuinness further renewed calls for funding to improve the energy efficiency of homes, arguing that large-scale housing retrofit programmes could lower household bills while creating jobs in the construction sector.
Education and employment support for young people was another key priority. Government figures show the North East has the highest proportion in England of young people not in education, employment or training, with more than 64,000 young people affected.
Mr Burnham has already indicated that education reform and youth employment support will form part of his long-term plans for government.
In her letter, Ms McGuinness said: “You are the first Prime Minister in British history who genuinely believes in using devolution to tear down the barriers to local growth.
“If we get this right, we will finally show people what taking back control looks like.”
Elsewhere, Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson said he wanted to see the North East remain firmly on the government’s agenda, with the long-awaited dualling of the A1 among his priorities.
He said Northumberland should be recognised not only for its tourism appeal but also as a growing and ambitious part of the country with significant economic potential.
Meanwhile, Labour MPs across the region welcomed Mr Burnham’s focus on devolution and tackling rough sleeping.
Newcastle Central and West MP Chi Onwurah said efforts to reduce rough sleeping would make a meaningful difference to vulnerable residents and local communities.
Jarrow and Gateshead East MP Kate Osborne said power, investment and opportunity needed to be spread more evenly across the country rather than concentrated in Westminster and the South East.
Liberal Democrat Newcastle City Council leader Colin Ferguson also called for wider reforms, including changes to social care funding and greater support for children with special educational needs.
He argued that devolution should not stop with regional mayors and that local councils and communities also needed more powers and resources.
The Prime Minister is expected to announce an initial package of measures aimed at easing the cost-of-living crisis this week, ahead of a wider 10-year plan for the country later this year.
