Speaking in the Commons for the first time since being re-elected as the MP for Newcastle North, Catherine McKinnell has hit out at the Government’s devolution proposals during today’s Queen’s Speech debate on devolution and growth across Britain.

The Newcastle North MP emphasised the importance of devolution of funding and powers to support the North East’s economy, but challenged the Chancellor’s determination to make this dependent on having a directly-elected ‘Metro Mayor’.

She also demanded clarity on how a ‘city-wide Metro Mayor’ would function in an area like the North East, with three cities, several metropolitan conurbations as well as some of the most rural, sparsely populated parts of England.

Catherine went on to criticise the Government’s recent decision to move European development funding decisions away from regions like the North East to Whitehall, and questioned how meaningful devolution can be achieved for local communities against a backdrop of massive local government funding cuts.

During this afternoon’s debate, Catherine said:

‘For cities like Newcastle, and regions like the North East, the way in which we devolve meaningful powers and real funding from Whitehall to local areas is absolutely key to better supporting and funding private sector growth and create skilled, sustainable jobs.

But she stated that, by insisting on ‘city-wide Metro Mayors’, the Chancellor was:

‘clearly ignoring the 68% of voters in Newcastle who voted against a mayor only three years ago. This is an interesting take on localism – by centrally-mandated diktat.’

The Newcastle North MP went on to criticise the Government’s recent decision to:

‘remove a significant amount of power from regions in the very policy area under consideration.

‘…Until very recently, we faced the prospect of losing £724million, because the Coalition removed Regional Development Agencies without ensuring that something was put in their place. Hundreds of millions of pounds of funding intended to address unemployment, support business growth and provide training in the North East were put in jeopardy because the LEPs (Local Enterprise Partnerships) lacked the appropriate powers, resources and accountability necessary to unlock that funding.

‘Instead, in order to prevent further hold-ups, it was agreed by the Government that, while LEPs will now have an advisory role, the actual decisions on how that money will be spent will have to be taken in Whitehall. That is a complete contradiction to the idea of decentralisation and empowering local areas.’

Commenting afterwards, Catherine said:

‘Today’s debate is about devolution and growth across Britain, and the Government’s proposals to decentralise power. But what – or who – is this devolution, growth and decentralisation for?

‘It is for the people and local communities of places like Newcastle North, but I question the Government’s strategy of devolving powers to local authorities that may soon be unable to deliver even statutory services, and to communities hollowed out by disproportionate funding cuts.’

The full version of Catherine’s speech can be read here.