Echo Comment on the new Great North collaboration

In many ways, this is the logical next step of the devolution journey that begin just over 20 years ago when the North East rejected a regional assembly. The assembly was rejected partly because it was too bureaucracy heavy, but the mayoral model is leaner and through the Great North, the region can gain a new voice and a new clout with better outcomes for all.

It is very important that it is cross-party, so it is good to see the Tees Valley’s Conservative Ben Houchen in there with other Labour mayors. Despite the politics, they have shared goals, especially as Great North’s number one priority is “clean energy” with the east coast becoming the energy coast, a world leader, using the shared expertise of Teesside and Humberside.

But it is vital that this body is not a talking shop that is disregarded by central government. It has to be the next level up from the “northern powerhouse” concept and it needs to get results, but with this government following the last in sending civil service jobs out to the regions, there are signs that Britain – the most centralised country in Europe – is decentralising.

There may be scepticism that the Great North really can add £118bn to the national economy, just as there is scepticism that Sir Keir Starmer’s deal with the EU – announced on the same day as Great North – can stimulate two per cent of growth, but the concept of neighbours working together to their mutual benefit is surely the right way to go.