Strong local champion can deliver real results for our region

FOLLOWING Angus Young’s piece on “Tory activists” wanting an elected mayor in Hull (Mail, November 25), I thought I’d write an open letter to local authorities and those councillors who are resistant to change.

As a young person living in Hull, studying politics and actively engaged in politics in the city, it’s always disheartening to hear of the low voter turnouts in local and national elections.

In May’s city council elections, though it was an improvement from 22.6 per cent in 2019, just 24.1 per cent of Hull residents turned out to vote. In one ward, North Carr, just 15.9 per cent of voters turned out.

These are some of the lowest turnouts in the country, and what it demonstrates is that politics in Hull is in dire need of a shake-up.

Voters are apathetic and clearly feel that politics isn’t delivering the improvements in people’s lives it should be.

Perhaps the shake-up Hull needs is a metro mayor – not only for Hull, but for the rest of the Humber region, too.

Two hours up the road, for the past five years, the Tees Valley Combined Authority, led by Ben Houchen, has been delivering real change.

Thanks to his hard work, competence and passion for the Tees Valley, he’s been able to attract considerable investment from the Government.

Just last month, £310m was set aside for transport in Tees Valley, and over the past five years, thousands of jobs have been created. Thanks to his work, Teesside is the talk of the Government.

Houchen’s work isn’t only recognised by Whitehall, but by Teessiders, too.

In May this year, while Hull suffered low voter turnout and real disillusionment, Houchen received nearly 73 per cent of the vote in a region that ten years ago wouldn’t have dreamt of electing a Conservative mayor.

It’s not only Conservative mayors that can deliver. Andy Burnham, Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, has a good record on delivering his commitments.

Particularly on transport (something Hull desperately needs to improve as one of the most congested cities in the country), with a 500-mile network of new footpaths and decent cycle paths well under way, and vast improvements to Manchester’s metro network.

Not only can metro mayors ensure change locally, but they can also effectively hold the Government to account. Perhaps, better than MPS can.

As a young person living in the city, I plead with local authorities, please stop hindering progress. Please commit to a mayor-led combined authority.

If Teesside can do it, if West Yorkshire can do it, if Manchester can do it, so can we.

Give Hull, and the Humber region, the opportunity to elect a strong, enthusiastic local champion, who’ll deliver real results not only for our city, but those living in East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, too.