The Great North has called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Government to build a new partnership with Northern leaders, placing devolution at the heart of national renewal.
In an open letter, Northern mayors and leaders call for greater powers, investment and freedoms to drive growth and prosperity.
The mayoral led pressure group argues devolution has already transformed local leadership but says the next step must be a more fundamental shift in the relationship with Westminster.
Burnham, a founding member of The Great North as former Mayor of Greater Manchester, has made devolution central to his premiership, including establishing a ‘Number 10 North’ unit.
Five priorities for Government
The Great North sets out five priorities:
• putting devolution at the heart of national policy
• building a globally competitive Northern economy
• unlocking investment through better transport and connectivity
• promoting the North internationally
• ensuring every community shares in growth.
What was said
Chair of The Great North and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: ‘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.’
She added: ‘The next chapter of devolution must be about a new relationship between national government and Northern leaders.’
