Mayor David Skaith helps launch Manifesto for the North

Mayor David Skaith said York and North Yorkshire’s assets including hosting key transport links would put it at the forefront of efforts to boost growth across the North.

The Labour mayor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he was confident the Government would support his and other Northern mayors’ efforts to work more closely together.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has said the Government wants to widen and deepen devolution across the country including through greater powers over housing, transport, skills and planning.

Mr Skaith’s comments follow the launch of the Manifesto for the North in York on Wednesday, September 4.

Mayors and council leaders from across the North gathered at the Grand Hotel to unveil plans to work more closely on the economy, attracting investment and improving transport.

Labour’s West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said it heralded a new dawn while Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said it would give Northern people more control over their lives.

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Proposals in the Manifesto include drawing up a Northern trade and investment strategy and developing ‘Northern Products’ in areas such as clean energy to market worldwide.

It also calls for more powers to be devolved to mayors and delivering improvements and updates to railways proposed in Northern Powerhouse Rail in full.

One Creative North, an investment fund backed with £50 million to support the culture industry and Destination Development Partnerships worth £6.75 million to support tourism are also proposed.

The manifesto stated that its proposals could boost growth in the North by up to £118 billion by 2050.

Speaking to LDRS following the announcement, York and North Yorkshire’s Mayor Mr Skaith said proposals would give the region a seat at the top table of decision-making in the North.

He added his support would be unaffected by changes in the political landscape when asked whether having a Labour-run York Council, mayor and Government presented a limited window for action.

The mayor said: “York and North Yorkshire are very central to transport in the North, if people want to travel to Newcastle say they have to move through our area.

“Having those connections across the North is paramount, but transport connections east to west are currently very poor so we’re planning on putting huge amounts of investment and energy into it.

“We also want to work with industry colleagues and training providers to ensure our workforce has the skills we need for economic growth.

“We create highly-skilled people but there’s this idea that they having to go down to London and elsewhere for opportunities.

“But we have the opportunities here to attract people and get them to stay and have a life and career here.

“That comes back to improving local transport connections and also building more affordable housing.

“Most of the North has a mayor now so this is about saying to the Government that we have the capability to deliver economic growth by working together.

“We now have the power to put the North on the map and address underinvestment here.

“A lot of the challenges we face around jobs, skills and the transition to net zero are similar across the North but the way we approach that is different here compared to in urban areas.

“I’m really confident because the fact that discussions are being had at the top of Government shows how much support there is for this and they’re taking us incredibly seriously because we’ve been proactive.”

Local Government Minister Jim McMahon said: “Our brilliant mayors are making a real difference to people’s lives and are central to our mission to boost economic growth.

“Those with skin in the game will obviously know their areas best and we’ll always be open hearing from them about how best to shift power away from Westminster.

“I look forward to continuing to work with mayors and leaders hand-in-hand in future to ensure the North is at the forefront of growth, and we unlock the area’s vast potential.”