Labour Party North East Metro Mayor candidate Kim McGuinness aims to make the North East the “home of real opportunity”.
For the first time ever, voters in the North East will go to the polls to elect the region’s first ever metro mayor. There are a lot of issues in the region from child poverty to housing to public transport that need addressed. Six candidates are standing for the post and one of them will be elected on the 2 May. In this piece, I will talk about Kim McGuinness, the woman who Labour have chosen to fight this election.
Who is Kim McGuinness?
Born in Newcastle during the height of Thatcherism and growing up in the West End of the city, Kim McGuinness was the first person in her family to go to university and during her time there she campaigned hard to get young people to vote in the 2005 general election. She credits the Labour government of her time for the improvements to her life, those close to her and her local community.
Kim worked in a number of fields over a number of years, including universities, finance and charities but particularly with people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Despite being politically aware, if you had asked Kim ten years ago if she would ever be a politician, her answer would have been no. That would change however.
In 2015, Kim McGuinness stood for Newcastle City Council and won in the Lemington ward. She joined the council’s cabinet as the executive member for culture, sport and public health in 2016. In 2019, she was elected Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner and was re-elected to the post in 2021.
From Police Commissioner to the North East Mayoral election
On the 17 July 2023, it was announced that Kim McGuinness had been selected as the Labour Party candidate for the North East Metro Mayor election. She beat her rival, former MEP Paul Brannen, by 76% to 24%.
The North East Mayoral Combined Authority is the result of a £4.3billion devolution deal for the North East of England, negotiated by the current North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll and will comprise of Northumberland, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Gateshead, County Durham, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland. This new combined authority is said to be the strongest devolved region in England. The authority was announced on the 28 December 2022 and powers that the new North East Metro Mayor will have include control over public transport, housing and planning, education and the adult education budget.
Kim’s vision for the future
Kim’s vision for the future is to “take the pride we have as people and turn it into real opportunity for everyone that lives here [in the North East]”. But what does that mean?
In my conversation with Kim, she told me it meant job creation, housing, and public transport among other things. Part of this includes bringing public transport into public hands. Her manifesto proposes the ‘Angel Network’ which will see a green, joined up and publicly owned transport system for the North East. It also includes a promise to ensure a universal ‘Take the Kids Free’ scheme on buses and Metro trains in the first year of her term as a first step towards free travel for under-18s. Transport infrastructure fit for purpose is also featured with backing for the re-opening of the Leamside Line and the dualling of the A1 to Scotland.
Her manifesto also talks about “good quality, green homes” which involves setting the standard for a good home, standing up for renters against irresponsible landlords and making existing housing greener, warmer and cheaper to run.
What does this mean for the average voter?
A brand-new North-East Metro Mayor is one thing, but their actions and deliveries will speak louder than their words.
For me personally, I have a lot riding on elections – both locally and nationally. I can’t drive because of medical reasons and opportunities in my hometown of Berwick-upon-Tweed are few and far between. The cost-of-living crisis has increased my bills and despite working, it’s still a struggle. I know many others share this story. Improved public transport and more opportunities closer to home could make all the difference, as could upgraded housing.
Kim’s vision to turn the North East into the “home of real opportunity” will help a lot, but every corner of the region must reflect this. My home town and all other towns and villages in the local area must echo it also and public transport must improve properly and connect every city, town and village in the North East. But most importantly, the problems caused by Westminster must be addressed and mitigated and people’s lives in the region must improve. Otherwise, the North East Metro Mayor – whoever is elected to the role – will just become another level of bureaucracy.
