Achi news desk-
That leader will lead a new combined authority that stretches across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and Durham and will represent around two million people.
The multi-billion pound devolution deal negotiated with the North East Government gives the mayor significant funding and decision-making powers that the region has not previously held, such as the ability to take public control of bus services.
Before the mayoral election on 2 May, we have asked the same 10 questions to each of the six candidates in order to give voters an idea of ​​their policies and personalities.
Here, independent candidate Jamie Driscoll discusses his record as the sitting mayor North of Tyne, his love of Hadrian’s Wall, and his favorite Star Trek character.
Why should people care about the North East mayoral election?
Whether you vote or not, a Mayor will be elected on May 2. That person will be responsible for a £6.1 billion devolution deal. That person will have the power to charge your council tax. In my five years as mayor, I never have. This is our chance to take some control over our future. To boost our economy. To have a public transport system that works. Both main parties have committed to more cuts and more austerity. Westminster is not coming to help us. We have to do this ourselves.
If you could do one thing as mayor to improve people’s lives, what would it be?
Creating a Complete Transport Network. That means bringing buses back under public control, so the Metro, trains, Shields Ferry and car clubs all work together as one. I will make public transport so reliable, so fast, and so comprehensive that many people will prefer it to driving. It’s better for motorists too – less traffic is good for everyone. I’ll do it free for 18 and under and everyone in full-time education, so we’re building a long-term traveler base. And extend the Metro from South Hylton through Washington, and open mass transit to the Outer West of Newcastle.
What is your favorite place in the North East, and why?
I love Hadrian’s Wall. There is something magical about a structure that connects us to history. Imagine the soldiers there from all over the Roman Empire. How many generations have stood in the same place as you and admired the view. The views are stunning, rain, sun or snow. I used to run along parts of it, including the old Sycamore Gap. It really affected me when it was broken down.
What is (or was) your day job outside of politics?
My day job is mayor, and has been since 2019. But I didn’t become a politician until I was 48. I left school at 16 and worked in a plumbing factory. I went to Northumbria University in my 20s to get an Engineering Degree, and worked as a bouncer to pay my way through. After working as an engineer, I became a company director, and set up my own business. I also taught jiu-jitsu for over twenty years, pro-bono.
What is your proudest achievement in your political career so far?
Being North of Tyne Mayor. I said in 2019 we would try to unite the region and have transport devolved to us. I have done that, and have negotiated cross-party with the Government to get the best devolution deal in the country for the North East funded. The creation of 5,377 full-time, permanent jobs is a tremendous achievement. It changes people’s lives. I met a man called Dale who got one of these new jobs. He had worked away in the Baltics, but with his new job in North Shields, he told me he got to read his young daughter a bedtime story every night.
Apart from becoming Mayor of the North East, what would be your dream job?
One of the local companies we helped grow is a confectionery called SweetDreams in Cramlington. They hired a chocolate engineer – that sounds great! My father was a tank driver, and I would love to drive a tank. The job I have enjoyed most was raising my two boys when they were small. I loved spending so much time with my children. I put my career on hold to be a stay-at-home dad while my wife continued her career as an NHS doctor.
Who is your role model in life?
I have always admired moral courage above anything else. I have been fortunate to have great influences – my mother set up a shelter for women from domestic violence. That is inspiring. I also had great teachers at school. But I’m not sure it’s healthy to idolize other people – I’ve taught my boys to be themselves and forge their own path in life. So I’ll choose someone fictional. Maybe Jean-Luc Picard? It’s not just the hairline. It is a commitment to always stand up for what is right. As he says, “There are times, sir, when men of good conscience cannot follow orders blindly.”
If you could ban one thing in the North East, what would it be? Political parties?
Or at least our current way of doing politics. The winner takes all approach to politics is there no favoritism for us. We would be much better off if people would put aside the stone throwing and focus on fixing the problems. Many people who are not involved in politics have great ideas and valuable experience. Not everyone is going to be right, but by listening to other points of view and discussing in good faith, I think you end up with better decisions.
If you could erect a statue somewhere in our region, who would it commemorate?
Heroes of Covid. At the time there was so much public admiration. My wife is a GP in Gateshead, and I know the hard work that so many workers do to keep us safe. And how have they been reimbursed by the Government? Cost of living crisis and wages below inflation rising. So I’d go for a statue like US Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima – but teachers and bus drivers and shop workers.
If you didn’t win the mayoral election, which of the other candidates would you most like to win?
Realistically, it’s a two horse race between me and the Labor candidate. No one else can win. But whatever happens, I’ve left the combined authority in excellent shape. People may not realize that my entire team of staff and over 70 existing North Tyne projects will form the basis of the new North East Combined Authority. The finances are in good shape, there is no debt, no council tax precept, and our Child Poverty Prevention Program is ready to roll out across the whole region now. When I was elected in 2019, we had to start from scratch.
