CANDIDATES for the job of Tees Valley Mayor have already begun to emerge after council chiefs agreed to work with the Government to obtain greater powers.

The leaders of the Tees Valley's five unitary authorities yesterday (July 23) issued a joint statement with Stockton South MP James Wharton announcing their desire to "strike a deal" for more control over funding.

The announcement was immediately hailed by George Osborne as another "important step" towards the creation of the Northern Powerhouse.

He said: “The momentum towards devolution is unstoppable and the North is leading the way.

"What we are offering is radical. We are handing power to the people who know their area best with an accountable elected mayor working for the whole area. We will now work constructively with all parties across Tees Valley to land a deal which works for everyone."

The plans for a Tees Valley Mayor have come under fire from Labour MPs in the region.

The backing from the council leaders comes days after council leaders joined Mr Wharton in London for a meeting with Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark, to discuss how the Tees Valley could obtain greater devolved powers, including more control over house building, transport, skills and employment, further education and culture.

The Government is adamant that only regions which agree to electing a so-called metro mayor will be handed the extra powers.

The Northern Echo understands several high-profile figures within the region are considering standing for the powerful position.

Darlington businessman Graham Robb, North-East chairman of the Institute of Directors (IOD), is thought to be one of those.

Mr Robb has previously stood for Parliament as a Conservative candidate and is believed to have been asked by Tory chiefs to stand for Tees Valley Mayor, should an election take place.

Last night, a spokesman for Mr Robb said he would not consider standing until his term as IOD chair had ended.

Former Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon is another person being linked with the job.

Mr Mallon last night declined to comment on whether he would stand, but on his retirement as Middlesbrough Mayor in May he told the Echo that he "couldn't discount it".

“I’m going to take a leaf out of James Bond’s book – Never Say Never Again,” he said at the time.

The support for a Tees Valley mayor comes as members of the North East Combined Authority (Neca) seek talks on how the North of the region will get similar devolved powers.

City regions that want to agree a devolution deal with the Government have submit "fiscally-neutral" proposals to the Treasury by September 4.