Rayner ‘trusts’ The Great North to lead the way

Northern mayors have come together to launch a partnership aiming to unlock opportunities for the region.  The Great North, which forms a part of devolution and the UK government’s Plan for Change, was endorsed by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner. Speaking at the launch event in Leeds, Rayner emphasised the role of the North as “a powerhouse for the whole country”. She said: “I want all of the North to benefit from devolved powers by the end of this parliament because the North is absolutely central to Keir [Starmer]’s economic mission – the number one priority for the prime minister and the whole of government. “When the North thrives, the country thrives. When the North succeeds, the country succeeds. I’m excited and looking forward to continuing our work together to make this happen.” Rayner committed to providing the partnership with the tools and funding “local communities need to write their own stories of success”, including new jobs, better homes and safer streets. “It’s time to work together to build the North that is fairer, greener and more prosperous for everyone,” she said. “And to show the rest of the country what changes we make when we trust the North to lead the way. We all know that teamwork gets the job done. Voters see it but, most importantly, people on the ground feel the benefits of it.” As part of the plan, the new partnership will lead international trade missions on pan-Northern investment propositions and host a new Northern Investment Summit in the first half of next year. The mayors have proposed to focus on the opportunities within the green energy, industrial, manufacturing, engineering, cyber security, advanced materials and creative industries sectors. In addition, the partnership will be pressing ahead with the Northern Arc and White Rose Plan stretching from the North West across the Pennines through investment in the TransPennine route upgrade and proposals in the White Rose Rail report and Liverpool-Manchester Railway. The Great North has an ambition to add £118bn to the wider UK economy over the next decade. Rayner said: “This is so much more than just a new name or a new council for the North. It’s a whole new era. A new era where decisions are made not in far away rooms in London, but by people who know the towns and the cities and the countryside best. “We also know the strengths the North has and what it has to offer. With The Great North, your collective voice will only get louder. And we’re here to help.” The initial partnership is formed of West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin, mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram, York and North Yorkshire mayor David Skaith, Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen, South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard, Hull and East Yorkshire mayor Luke Campbell. It will be chaired by North East mayor Kim McGuinness. All of the North will be covered by devolution arrangements following elections in 2026 in Cumbria, and Cheshire and Warrington. Discussions are also under way on naming a mayor of Lancashire after the recent establishment of a combined authority. The Great North utilises the brand of the Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon, working with the company’s founder Brendan Foster. It builds on a commitment by mayors made in September last year at the Great North Run, to work together and champion their regions on the national and international stage.