Mayor calls for faster and deeper devolution

A regeneration boss is calling for faster and deeper devolution to help regions shape policies that reflect their own economic and social needs.

North East mayor Kim McGuinness used her keynote address at University College London’s  (UCL) Sir Peter Hall Lecture to call for greater local powers over post-16 skills, housing and taxation. 

Her proposals include streamlining employment funding, reforming Homes England, and introducing a regional tourist tax.

Mayor McGuinness said: “Devolution is a process that works best when it has a direct input into people’s lives and needs. 

“Mayors and regions are best placed to develop and deliver more joined-up skills pathways tailored to the specific needs of our key sectors, as defined by local business. 

 “We are also far better placed than Whitehall to innovate when it comes to addressing rising levels of young people outside work and education – so-called NEETS – and preventing their loss from the system at a critical age.   

“That means a new approach to Government in the corridors of power. 

“Or, to put it bluntly, we need civil servants in Whitehall to stop making decisions about who can be trusted to deliver, based on the sound of someone’s accent.” 

Marking her first year in office, the mayor also highlighted initiatives already launched by the North East Combined Authority, such as childcare grants and a Child Poverty Reduction Unit. 

She argued that local mayors need the freedom to move beyond rigid national frameworks to deliver tailored, meaningful change in their communities.

Calling for an end to ‘top-down economic targets,’ Mayor McGuiness added: “Devolution has to empower mayors to empower people. 

“Nearly half our local population work in the foundational economy whose identity is deeply rooted in place.  

“I want to ensure they can elect a mayor empowered to deliver for their needs as well so that any young person who starts out serving tourists can see a path to running that business themselves. 

“This won’t be at the centre of Government delivery plans, but it is the sort of investment that makes the difference between a job that just about pays the bills or a job that actually gives you money to enjoy your own region.” 

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