Cross-party co-operation is a constant in changing times
Date published:
The Chamber’s latest column for The Journal by Rhiannon Bearne, deputy CEO.
The elections across Tyne and Wear and Hartlepool delivered significant change for the region.
Reform majorities in Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead were joined by Newcastle and Hartlepool boroughs in no overall control, with the Liberal Democrats and Reform respectively holding the balance of power by a single seat in those areas.
With nearly 5,000 seats in contention across England alone, Reform’s capture of 1,451 seats from just two before the recent elections is a historic performance. As are Labour’s losses, which are in a similar order of magnitude.
However, through a combination of electoral geography and the simple fact that seven of the region’s 12 councils either did not hold elections or did not change hands in the case of North Tyneside, there is a degree of continuity in the midst of change.
From the perspective of the region’s business community, this matters. Certainty, policy stability and the ability to plan for the long-term are consistent messages we hear from businesses and employers across the North East.
As a region, time and time again we have shown that our leaders, independent of party politics, understand this.
We are one of the few areas in the UK where senior politicians from different parties, our mayors Ben Houchen and Kim McGuinness, collaborate effectively to get projects delivered across geographic boundaries, putting the wider North East first. That is because the business community, with partners across the public and voluntary sectors, is consistently clear on the drivers for growth in this region – skills, investment and trade, all backed up by good-quality jobs.
Following a first quarter of activity heavily affected by geopolitical instability in the Middle East, that collaboration matters more than ever.
Over the last decade, businesses and employers have demonstrated resilience, innovation and the ability to adapt as a unique combination of economic headwinds and experiences like the Covid-19 pandemic have reshaped their everyday. That is why, along with our colleagues in the voluntary sectors and across bodies representing the diversity and richness of North East business, we are looking forward to continuing to build strong, productive relationships with the region’s political leaders.
Our elected leaders have an important mandate to serve the communities and businesses they represent. At the North East Chamber of Commerce, we are looking forward to playing our part.