Northern Mayors issue joint statement from Convention of the North

"As Northern Mayors representing nine million people, we have ambitious plans for the Northern economy.

"Our manifesto for the North will buck the trend of vested interests and a Whitehall-knows-best approach.

"We will stand up for all Northerners. And everybody in the country will reap the rewards through greater energy security, facing up to the climate crisis in a way that boosts the economy, and pouring billions of pounds back to the Exchequer.

"Devolution is the green shoot of hope. Gone are the days of cap-in-hand or pork-barrel politics. We will no longer accept the status quo of pitching areas of deprivation against one another.

"This can be a new dawn for British politics. 

"We have proven time and again that if you want something delivered properly then you look to a Metro Mayor. 

"Devolution is working, and by working in deeper partnership delivering our manifesto for the North, we will take this to the next level."

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region

Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire

Jamie Driscoll, Mayor of North of Tyne