• Group of cross-party leaders warns of ‘tidal wave of need this winter’ in joint statement
• Signatories include mayors Andy Burnham, Steve Rotheram and Marvin Rees
• The group calls for action to reverse inequalities and protect the levelling up agenda

11 Mayors and council leaders have called on new PM Liz Truss to address the cost-of-living crisis with the ‘urgency and gravity it demands.’

The cross-party group includes Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester; Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region; and Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol.

In a joint statement published today, the political leaders warn that ‘the local and combined authorities we represent up and down the UK are preparing to meet with a tidal wave of need this winter.’ They highlight the vital support that local and combined authorities are providing to their communities across the UK, but warn, ‘we cannot do this alone.’

Other signatories include Jamie Driscoll, Mayor of North of Tyne Combined Authority; Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire; Councillor Christina Black, Lord Mayor of Belfast; and Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council.

The intervention adds to the huge pressure facing new Prime Minister Liz Truss to announce extra support to help people with the cost of living, after Ofgem announced a new energy price cap of £3549 from October. Local and combined authorities have been on the front foot by putting in place local responses to the crisis before it reaches its peak, with many adapting their models of support to respond to growing levels of need from both households and local businesses. The support provided so far by central government through the Household Support Fund has not been sufficient, and many places are drawing upon other resources to finance their cost-of-living response.[1]

All the political leaders involved represent local and combined authorities that are members of the Inclusive Growth Network, a joint initiative to deliver local economic approaches which spread opportunity and prosperity more equally within and across local economies.

The statement highlights the group’s shared focus not only on immediate responses to the crisis but ‘on using the policy, investment and convening powers at our disposal to strengthen our local economies for the long term.’

It urges the UK government to do the same and ensure that in the long term, the benefits of economic growth are shared more equally between people and places. Doing so would ‘reverse the inequalities – in education, health, wealth and income – that have long held back UK productivity.’

The statement warns that ‘we know from experience that making sure that economic growth is inclusive is the only way the levelling up agenda, on which this government was elected, can withstand the political and economic turbulence ahead.’

[1] https://www.progressive-policy.net/ign/resources/key-learnings-from-ign-cost-of-living-roundtable

For more information, contact Grace Hetherington: g.hetherington@progressive-policy.net / 07867315837