(Image: Scott Heppell/PA Wire)
Andy Burnham has vowed to explore The Northern Echo’s "important" manifesto as he promised there would be "more power coming to the North East".
The Prime Minister committed to look “in detail” at six key priorities that we want him to deliver for Echo readers as we handed over our manifesto in person in Newcastle today (August 19).
He immediately backed two of the demands - making devolution work and saving high streets from decline - and said he would go away and find out more about the other issues “rather than give any glib promises”.
These priorities include calling a public inquiry into the breast cancer scandal at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, committing to Maya's Law , speeding up the public inquiry into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley (TEWV) trust, and compensating the victims of the Kirklevington Detention Centre scandal .
“They are all important issues,” Mr Burnham told the Echo, exactly one month after we launched our manifesto as he moved into Number 10.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham during a visit to homelessness charity Changing Lives in Newcastle
(Image: Scott Heppell/PA Wire)
“Two I can commit to, [including] making devolution of power work. On the other things, all I can say is I [will] take those away and look at them in detail. And obviously we will come back to the Echo on that.
“North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has talked to me about some of them in the past. I have said to Kim today that Number 10 North is fully at her disposal and the disposal of the team here in the North East.
“I come up here a lot [and] I would be the first to say that the infrastructure that people have here is not fair in terms of lack of transport infrastructure.
“They do a brilliant job and Kim has made some major improvements.
“We will make devolution work in a way that's right for people in the North East. There is more power coming to the North East. And that's a commitment.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness during a visit to homelessness charity Changing Lives in Newcastle
(Image: Scott Heppell/PA Wire)
“Number 10 North will be driving these changes with Kim.”
Mr Burnham said that he had already made a commitment to tackle saving high streets, including working with Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner and Chancellor John Healey.
He added: “There is more to come there in relation to reform of business rates, to reward the businesses that help high streets as opposed to those that sometimes cause further harm, vape shops, and adult gaming centres.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham during a visit to homelessness charity Changing Lives in Newcastle
(Image: Scott Heppell/PA Wire)
“The high streets of the North East absolutely are going to get more support.”
Mr Burnham's devolution pledge comes just weeks after Chancellor John Healey branded Darlington’s Treasury hub ‘No 11 North’ - saying major decisions will be made here “day in day out”.
On his first visit to the Darlington Economic Campus last month, the Chancellor said he could see his bid to “make growth in every postcode” was already “well underway” in the town.
The Echo’s manifesto
When Mr Burnham took over from Keir Starmer, he said he would speak up for all aspects of the UK - and our manifesto calls on him to stick to that promise by backing our six priorities.
Since then, he has launched his flagship Number 10 North, but this didn't come without criticism that the project was too focused on Manchester.
The Echo's manifesto includes calling for an inquiry into the breast cancer scandal, where around 1,500 patient records remain under review while victims continue to wait for answers.
The Northern Echo manifesto
(Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
We have also joined the family of murdered Shotton Colliery __toddler Maya Chappel__l for increased safeguarding laws through a child risk disclosure scheme.
Another priority is compensation for the victims of the Kirklevington Detention Centre scandal who were subject to physical and sexual abuse and are still waiting for justice.
We also want to speed up the statutory public inquiry into the TEWV mental health trust, which currently remains in limbo.
The Prime Minister was in the North East today as he launched a national drive to 'Get everyone in for Christmas', offering everyone sleeping rough a route off the streets if they need it.
The £442m package will see areas with the greatest need receive the largest share of support and will see those facing long-term homelessness given a settled home.
Speaking at crisis accommodation centre Changing Lives, he said: “nobody should sleep on a doorway or on a bench or on the streets in this day and age.”
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He said: “It's the right thing to do on every level. I have complete belief in Kim and people here, in terms of the values of the people of the North East. I know people will get behind this.”
Ms Rayner added: “We have to not only keep a relentless focus on rough sleeping, but join up the services with health services, mental health services, addiction services, but housing first, to make sure that people can get into jobs, and can get the support that they need.
“There's a number of measures that we've made, but you've got to do it continuously and it's got to be national.”