Sunderland cannot be allowed to play second fiddle to Tyneside under new devolution deal

Speaking after Sunderland City Council’s ruling cabinet agreed this morning to proceed with a devolution deal and new Metro Mayor for the North East, Leader of the Liberal Democrats opposition Paul Edgeworth said:

“Extra funding for the North East will, of course, be welcome but there is no sense that local people are crying out to be governed by - and pay for - a new regional politician.

“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 Government ministers and Council bosses are confident that Sunderland will be getting a good deal from this new Metro Mayor then they should have had nothing to fear from putting the idea to a vote of all residents in the city. This could have been held on the same day as the local elections last month to avoid any additional cost.”