Our region is rich in identity, resilience, and innovation. Yet too often, our cities—Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Middlesbrough—are spoken about rather than for. With new devolved powers and regional ambitions being created, now is the moment to demand more than management. We need leadership: visible, strategic, and ambitious.
Learning from the world, acting locally
Throughout history, we’ve seen the power of bold civic leadership to turn adversity into opportunity. Nelson Mandela united a fractured South Africa through a clear vision of reconciliation. Jacinda Ardern’s calm, empathetic leadership brought global praise—and domestic unity—in the face of crisis. Closer to home, Sir Richard Lees vocal leadership in Manchester led the work with his dynamic chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein in regenerating and transforming the city, whilst in Sunderland the leadership of Cllr Graeme Miller and Patrick Melia must be applauded for the bold ambitious strategy they put in place for Sunderland resulting in phenomenal investment and development actively happening across the city centre in a remarkably short space of time.
These leaders didn’t just respond to events—they shaped them.
Cities that thrive do so because someone is driving the ambition. In Bogotá, Mayor Enrique Peñalosa prioritised green public transport and parks over cars and short-term interests. In Paris, Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s fight against pollution has reimagined the city for future generations. In Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew’s vision turned a fragile economy into a global hub of prosperity.
What these stories show is that real progress depends not just on funding or policy—but on leaders with a plan and the courage to see it through.
And yet, as local authority budgets shrink and central government control lingers, many people feel increasingly disconnected from the decisions shaping their lives.
As local campaigner and academic Dr. Emily Irvine recently put it:
“The North East doesn’t need permission to lead—it needs the power, and the people, to do so.”
That means more than rebranding or reorganisation. It means fostering a new kind of leadership—rooted in place, responsive to people, and unafraid to take a stand.
What kind of leadership do we need?
We need council leaders and chief executives, who:
- • Speak up for their city or town on the national stage.
- • Set out long-term plans based on evidence, not election cycles.
- • Unite public services, businesses, universities and local communities behind a shared vision.
- • Are visible, accountable, and trusted by the people they serve.
Civic leadership must be about more than crisis response. It must be about building a future—strategically, boldly, and with pride.
The North East’s towns and cities have all the ingredients to lead the next chapter of Britain’s story. What it needs now is the leadership to match.
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