The Great North has today called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Government to build a new partnership with Northern leaders that puts devolution at the heart of national renewal, welcoming their former colleague to Number 10.
  • In an open letter to the Prime Minister, Mayor Steve Rotheram along with fellow Northern mayors and leaders has called for a devolution-first approach that gives Northern leaders the powers, investment and freedoms needed to drive growth, strengthen communities and deliver greater prosperity across the country.
  • The Great North unleashes new era of prosperity spearheaded by Northern Mayors
  • It argues that devolution has already transformed local leadership across the North, but that the next step must be a more fundamental shift in the relationship between central government and England’s largest economic region.
  • Mr Burnham, a founding member of The Great North when Mayor of Greater Manchester, has made devolution the centre piece of his agenda for government, including establishing a ‘Number 10 North’ to rebalance power and prosperity across the country.
  • The Great North says the North should be recognised as a strategic partner in the governance of the United Kingdom, alongside the devolved nations, with a stronger collective voice in national decision-making that reflects its scale, economic weight and democratic leadership.
  • It sets out five priorities for Government:
    2. putting devolution at the heart of national policy;
    4. building a globally competitive Northern economy, recognising the region’s unique strengths;
    6. unlocking investment through better transport and connectivity;
    8. promoting the North internationally as a powerhouse of innovation, culture and industry; and
    10. ensuring every community shares in growth and opportunity.

  • Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

  • “For years, we’ve been making the case that decisions about our communities shouldn’t be taken by people sat behind desks in Whitehall who don’t know our places like we do. Devolution has shown what’s possible when you trust local leaders to get on with the job.

  • “Andy Burnham has been making that argument for a long time, so he knows first-hand the difference it can make. We’ve shown across the North that, when we’re given the tools, we deliver – whether that’s creating jobs, improving transport, attracting investment or opening up opportunities for local people.

  • “I’m really encouraged by the new government’s commitment to putting devolution at the heart of its agenda because we’ve got a real opportunity to completely change the way this country works. We’ve never lacked ambition in the North; we’ve just too often lacked the powers to match it. Working together, we can write the next chapter in our story, giving more people the chance to get on in life and delivering good growth in every postcode.”

  • Chair of The Great North and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:
  • “The North is mighty. We power Britain’s industries, produce world-leading innovation, create culture that is recognised around the world and are home to millions of talented people with huge ambition.
  • “Andy Burnham knows the North and the massive potential at our disposal. He helped shape The Great North and, as Mayor, consistently argued that Westminster had to trust places like ours with more power and responsibility.
  • “Now he has the opportunity to turn those arguments into lasting change – working us to create a more prosperous future for the North of England and the United Kingdom.
  • “The next chapter of devolution must be about a new relationship between national government and Northern leaders, recognised as a strategic partner in the governance of the UK, alongside the devolved nations.”