North of Tyne authority mayor candidates reveal their policies

This new development is an exciting opportunity to help determine our own future. I like to say: ‘We used to have the Carbon; we’ve still got the Energy!’.

I want to be Mayor of North of Tyne, including Hexham, Prudhoe and Allendale, to be a voice for all of us with Government and the wider world, and to help people and organisations work together effectively.

I want to maintain and strengthen international links, with the environment my top priority for the sake of our children and grandchildren. Brexit discussions are in chaos, and have worsened the bitterness and divisions that contributed to the referendum vote.

I want to: bring people and organisations together, building consensus about social and other priorities; l be a voice for our area nationally, lobbying for more devolution and re-building trust with international partners; use the funding and powers (limited at this stage) provided to promote sustainable jobs, housing and transport.

I’m particularly interested in how support for small businesses can be improved, creating jobs, generating new ideas, and sustaining both urban and rural communities.

I’ve lived in the North-East for over 30 years. At Newcastle University I’ve managed people (1,000 staff and students), strategy and a £14m budget. I’ve been a charity trustee, school governor, trade union branch president, and on local and national church committees (including issues such as gambling and homelessness).

Vote for experience, realism, plain-speaking, for a critical friend of Europe. I aim to find workable solutions that everyone can see the sense of, what I call, ‘creative compromise’.

Labour candidate Jamie Driscoll – “County will be at heart of Green Revolution”

Northumberland symbolises everything that is great about our region.

Its stunning coastlines, rolling countryside, unique market towns and rich heritage put our southern neighbours to shame. It’s also the home of Hogwarts - not many places can lay claim to that.

I’m an engineer who’s lived in the North-East all my life, and I’ve run my own business. I understand the renewable energy industry and, as mayor, I will kick-start the Green Industrial Revolution and make Northumberland its heart.

By investing in this industry we can create well-paid, sustainable jobs for our children and grandchildren.

Our national economy is too London focused. We can boost our region by helping small and local businesses win public sector work. I’ll set up a People’s Bank to invest in local businesses.

I’ll promote our small tourist businesses. This creates secure jobs where your loved ones can earn a real living wage.

Rural Northumberland has suffered, with services cut and shops closing. I’ll turn underused public buildings into community hubs.

We’ll run adult education courses, and support local projects that you’ll get to decide on.

They’ll be safe places for youth activities, and have high speed broadband, office and workshop space to give small businesses a leg-up.

I’ll introduce a smart system of joint ticketing across all bus, rail and metro services, to speed up services, and work towards a bookable on-demand bus system linking small towns and villages.

I’m ready to hit the ground running – these are practical, detailed plans, not wish lists and empty slogans.

Conservative candidate Charlie Hoult - “Proven experience and canny leadership needed”

I’m not a career politician. I’m a businessman and campaigner.

I believe the new mayor must work across country, coast and city – a big remit with a small budget will require proven experience and canny leadership.

I live at Walwick, near Humshaugh, and have seen growth in housing to bring more people to my patch. As a Hexham Courant reader and Hexham regular, I pick up stories from the town, plus rural corners, whether Hexhamshire or Belsay – taking in county issues on walks to Hareshaw Linn or swimming in Haltwhistle outdoor pool.

While the headline is North of Tyne mayor, I’m conscious many readers will actually be South of the Tyne – I’ll be working for you too.

Although I will have a pan-region role, I believe in fixing local issues so will bang our drum up at County Hall, Morpeth. I recommend a visit to Morpeth – there are lessons in town centre renewal to bring west.

I’m as conscious Haltwhistle and Haydon Bridge need a spotlight as do Wooler and Rothbury – we need a taskforce for town centre renewal.

My four boys have taken me to Corbridge United, Tynedale RFC and Tynedale Hockey Club, giving impetus to our manifesto pledge to support community sport as a route for cohesion, pride and wider recognition.

I’m the fourth generation to run my family business in Byker and have branched out with other work. For instance, I set up tech network Dynamo to champion the region’s IT sector where I’ve initiated £100m in projects.

Independent candidate John McCabe – “This region has been held back for too long”

This election is a big moment for people in North of Tyne.

I was born here, went to school, learned my trade, lost my job through redundancy, and now I’ve built a small business employing eight people here in Northumberland.

I love this region and I’m proud to call it home. But we’ve been held back for too long.

Devolution gives us the chance to unleash the potential of our people and our places.

Yet I fear this opportunity could be missed because the main parties will again use our region as an arena to fight the same old national political battles. And I’m tired of waiting for them to change.

Only an Independent mayor will be answerable to the people of this region alone, and free to build the future the North of Tyne deserves.

I want an economy where employers can grow their businesses, and where all people can use their talent to the full.

My commission on opportunity will be the most comprehensive review of its kind ever in the UK, removing barriers and smashing glass ceilings.

I’ll put new mental health support in schools, and we’ll make the most of our local communities and countryside, making them better connected and more accessible.

I know we can do this. I’ve lived here for 40 years, among talented, hard-working, passionate people in the most beautiful part of our country. For decades, Tory and Labour party politicians have wasted our potential. It’s time for us to do something better.

UKIP candidate Hugh Jackson, originally from Corbridge, was also contacted and given the opportunity to outline what he would bring to the role.