North East calls on new PM Andy Burnham for devolution

Making his first speech as Prime Minister outside Downing Street on Monday (July 20), Mr Burnham said: “I know people at home are fed up with politics. I hear you, and I want to be honest with you. We have not been good enough, and we need to be better. We will be.

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham makes a speech outside 10 Downing Street, London (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

"We will take power out of [Westminster] and carry it into every postcode in the land, so that they can do more, and in doing more, build a new economy where we put life’s essentials back under stronger public control to make them affordable to you again, reindustrialising Britain using public procurement to back British industry.”

He added that the change of leadership should be “the moment when Britain starts to believe again,” pledged to bring forward a ten-year plan for Britain and promised that tomorrow he would set out how he will give people “breathing space” with the cost of living.

Andy Burnham makes a speech outside 10 Downing Street, London, after meeting King Charles III and accepting his invitation to become Prime Minister and form a new government (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

Following the speech, MPs and Mayors from across the North East backed the new leader, but called on him to deliver for their communities.

Andy Burnham’s arrival in Downing Street must herald a “new era of power in the regions”, the North East mayor has urged.

In a letter to the Makerfield MP this afternoon (Monday, July 20), North East mayor Kim McGuinness urged him to “be bold” and hand local leaders far greater ability to enact change in their communities.

She wrote: “To take us towards a new era of power in the regions, the people of the North East need system change, immediate interventions to tackle the cost of living, and long-term changes that give them hope of a better future.

"Devolution in these three areas will allow people to see that their place is improving. It is that local delivery which should define your premiership. People trust results they can see.”

Ms McGuinness set out a set of initial demands to the new Prime Minister.

The first is to ensure mayors are given control over a share of national tax revenue, saying that delivering on fiscal devolution plans announced by Rachel Reeves earlier this year was “the most important next step in our devolution story” and that it is “vital we do not allow this progress to slip”.

She also called for a guarantee of long-term funding to continue a cap on bus fares, currently set at £3 nationally but at £2.50 in our region.

Today, The Northern Echo launched its manifesto, calling on Andy Burnham to commit to six key priorities that we want to see him deliver in the North East.

King Charles III welcomes Andy Burnham during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London (Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

As part of The Northern Echo manifesto, we want to see the Labour leader call a public inquiry into the breast cancer scandal at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, commit to Maya's Law, and compensate the victims of the Kirklevington Detention Centre scandal.

Our other priorities centre on speeding up the public inquiry already called into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley (TEWV) mental health trust, making devolution work, and saving our high streets across the region.

The front of Monnday's (July 20) The Northern Echo, setting out our six-point manifesto (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

And now the Echo are asking the new PM to back up his words and take power out of Whitehall and bring it to communities in County Durham, Darlington, Teesside, Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and North Yorkshire.

North Durham MP, Luke Akehurst, said: “I welcome the strong speech our new Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made on taking office, and particularly his commitments to devolution, reindustrialisation through use of public procurement, council house building, and defence spending."

MP for Bishop Auckland, Sam Rushworth, promised that he'll be "knocking on ministers' doors to keep fighting for the issues that matter most locally".

Mary Kelly Foy, City of Durham MP watching Mr Burnham's speech (Image: MARY KELLY FOY MP)

He added: "My priorities remain clear: improving access to NHS dentistry and securing place-based investment for communities like Shildon and Bishop Auckland town centre/high street.

"I hope an Andy Burnham-led government will listen closely to the concerns of small businesses and the hospitality sector, which continue to face real challenges.

"I've already met with Andy and made it clear that these campaigns will be at the top of my agenda.

"I'll work constructively with the new leadership to deliver the investment and services our communities deserve.

Meanwhile, City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy backed Mr Burnham, calling his speech "hopeful and determined when people are looking for leadership that is focused on delivering real change."

She added: "His commitment to tackling the cost of living, ending rough sleeping, investing in council housing and setting out a long-term vision for the country shows an understanding of the challenges communities continue to face.

"I'm feeling incredibly positive about what comes next. If we work together with purpose and keep communities at the heart of decision-making, we have a real chance to rebuild trust, create opportunity and improve lives across the country.

"The hard work starts now, but today's speech from the new prime minister gave people in the City of Durham and beyond a reason to believe that a better future is possible."

MP for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, Mary Glindon, both praised outgoing PM Keir Starmer, before noting her positivity for the future under Andy Burnham.

She said: "First, respect to Keir Starmer who rescued Labour from antisemitism and won our fourth landslide. He immediately faced profound global crises and did so much to avert the worst which could have cost our country billions in immediate increases in defence spending and in American tariffs.

"Andy Burnham will advance new policies that build on the 2024 manifesto and with new ministers.

"There is very much that can be positive for Newcastle, the North East, and the country.

"He is open to MPs’ ideas and I will certainly take him up on my priorities such as more North Sea oil and gas as well as offshore wind, better defence, public control of basic services, more council homes, firm women’s rights, lower NHS waiting lists, and above all action on the cost of living and more growth and power in the North East. After all, as we say here, shy bairns get nowt.