Councillors back Lib Dem campaign for new North East Mayor to be based in Sunderland

Lib Dem campaigners on Wearside have won cross-party support for their bid for the new North East Metro Mayor to be based in Sunderland to stop the city being overlooked.

Councillors from all parties on Sunderland City Council have voted in favour of the principle that the new North East mayor should be based in Sunderland.

The proposal received unanimous support from city councillors at a recent meeting of all 75 city councillors.

Opposition Liberal Democrats put forward the proposal to try and counter fears that the new devolution deal could see Sunderland miss out to Tyneside on investments, jobs and projects.

A new North East Mayor covering Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and County Durham is due to be elected in May 2024, as part of a new ‘devolution deal’ from the Government.

Speaking after the vote, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Sunderland Council Paul Edgeworth said:

“We desperately need guarantees that Sunderland will get a fair share of funding and actually benefit from projects coming as part of this new devolution deal. For far too long there has been a sense that Sunderland Council bosses always roll over and allow regional investment and projects to benefit Tyneside while our city plays second fiddle.

“If we are going to have a new North East elected Mayor which no-one actually wants then we think it is important that as a city we send a strong message that we expect to be front and centre of this new devolution deal.

“That’s why I’m pleased that all parties gave their backing to the Lib Dem campaign to have the new Mayor’s HQ in Sunderland to make sure that our city doesn’t get forgotten about as happened all too often with regional decision-making in the past.”