• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

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Comment on Gateshead devo opt-out, Councillors should apologise

19192 (1)North East mayoral candidate and self-made businessman Jeremy Middleton has called on Labour Councillors in Gateshead to “publicly apologise” after Gateshead opted out of the North East Devolution deal, losing out on its share of devolved funding.

The authority had previously signed up to the deal, which it is estimated will unlock £3.4bn in funding for priorities such as job creation and skills training. Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Sunderland Councils all voted to go ahead with the plans, while Durham and South Tyneside deferred their decision.

Mr Middleton said: “Gateshead Councillors have cut off the people they represent from billions of pounds in government funding by playing political games. Given their decision was taken behind closed doors, they owe residents a public apology. Gateshead will now miss out on vital cash for skills and training for young people and adults, as well as for transport and improved roads.

“Gateshead will now be left on its own while the rest of the region prospers. The millions in funding it would have got will now go to places like Newcastle, Durham and Northumberland instead. Gateshead Labour Councillors, and the MPs that backed them into a corner have clearly made a grave mistake. They now need to either justify that to their residents or apologise.”

“If elected as North East mayor I would welcome Gateshead back into the devolution deal, the petty political scheming of councillors should not be allowed to impact people’s lives.”

By admin