North East mayors ‘deserve London-style powers’

Mayors in the North East and Tees Valley should be as powerful as in London, according to a newly-elected Labour MP.

Chris McDonald told BBC’s Politics North the government would devolve more powers to regional mayors, but there had to be value for money for taxpayers and better accountability.

“We want them to have the same capabilities that the Mayor of London has… and we will support them to do that,” he said.

The MP for Stockton North also committed Labour to working with the Conservative mayor of the Tees Valley, Ben Houchen.

Mr McDonald was speaking after elected mayors travelled to Downing Street for talks with Sir Keir Starmer last week.

The MP said if the Tees Valley or North East combined authorities want to take on more powers, they would need more resources and more capability in order to do so.

Wayne Daley, a Conservative councillor in Northumberland and former member of the North East Combined Authority, said his party had “broken the mould” by creating mayors and there was now an opportunity to build on what had been achieved.

“There are some very good projects which will benefit everyone,” he said.

“Locally it’s worked really well. I dealt with Jamie Driscoll and had conversations with Kim McGuinness.

“I think we all need to work together to improve our region.”