Mayor brands competition for Whitehall cash 'ridiculous'

COMBINED AUTHORITY CHIEF CONDEMNS BIDDING CONTESTS TO GAIN GOVERNMENT FUNDING

- DANIEL HOLLAND

THE North East should not be forced into “ridiculous” competition against other areas of England and needs greater control over areas including train services and public land, the region's mayor has told MPs.

Kim McGuinness has hit out at “completely unnecessary” contests requiring different parts of the country to bid against each other for government cash.

Speaking at a Parliamentary inquiry alongside Greater Manchester counterpart Andy Burnham on Tuesday, the Labour mayor also reiterated her call to be handed control of Northern train services and also called for huge areas of land to be taken out of Network Rail’s ownership and put into the hands of local leaders.