NORTHERN mayors are effectively powerless to stand up for the north, according to the Yorkshire Party.

The party says chaos around lockdown measures and lack of financial support for Northern England has shown how little power the mayors have. It says only proper devolution can help Yorkshire and other regions recover.

Yorkshire Party leader, Bob Buxton, said: “Andy Burnham is doing his best to make the arguments for fair financial support and reasonable lockdown measures – but he has no powers to make these decisions for the people of Greater Manchester who elected him. Where is the democracy in that? Likewise, Dan Jarvis can do nothing on these issues for South Yorkshire and whoever is elected as West Yorkshire Mayor in May will be just as powerless on these matters and most other matters.”

“Powerless figureheads, however correctly they might argue their case, cannot deliver devolution, cannot deliver the support Yorkshire’s communities need and all Northern communities need to survive the pandemic and rebuild their economies.”

The party is concerned that those on low incomes are to receive insufficient support. Dr Buxton added: “Two-thirds of a low wage is not enough. Local lockdowns must be met with better local support. Truly devolved powers would be accountable to local people and would, we believe, do the right thing. The Tories have never prioritised the North and refuse to devolve true powers and funding, refuse to trust Yorkshire to govern itself.”