As it happened: North East mayoral candidates debate

1. Six candidates are standing to become North East mayor
2. The mayor will represent two million people in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham
3. Residents in the seven local authority areas in the North East will be eligible to vote
4. It has been estimated the deal could be worth more than £4bn over a period of 30 years
5. The election is on 2 May at the same time as local council and police and crime commissioner elections

The end of our live coverage

That's the end of our coverage of today's debate between the six candidates hoping to become North East mayor.

You can watch the debate tonight on BBC One at 22:40 BST and afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.

And you can see the debate as it went out live earlier this morning by clicking on the link below.

Thank you for joining us.

Analysis: Sparks but no knockouts

Luke Walton

Political correspondent, BBC North East and Cumbria

BBC

No knockout blows today but there were plenty of sparks, particularly between two of the frontrunners, Labour’s Kim McGuinness and independent Jamie Driscoll, the current North of Tyne Mayor and until recently Labour himself.

Ms McGuinness insisted she would work with and, if necessary, stand up to a Labour Government (if one were elected) while highlighting her plans to improve transport, housing and the economy.

Mr Driscoll focused on his record as mayor – pointing to what he sees as big achievements in areas such as jobs and investment.

He says he has shown he can work with ministers – whatever their political stripe.

Meanwhile Conservative Guy Renner-Thompson is clearly hoping the clash between the Labour candidate and a man who was previously Labour, will allow him to come through the middle.

His attack on the “crazy” policy of bus “nationalisation” was among his key points.

Mr Renner-Thompson also promised to push back against what he saw as anti-motorist measures which he says are keeping drivers away from the high street.

In a six candidate-contest, being noticed is a problem.

And today Liberal Democrat Aidan King continued to push his “big idea” of building the UK’s biggest windfarm in the North East.

He referenced it again and again.

But his rivals question whether it is feasible. And in a crowded contest, there will also be doubts it will be enough to ensure the Lib Dem hopeful cuts through with voters.

North East Mayor: What's the role and who is running?

For all the background about the North East mayor - what the role will involve, what their powers will be, who the candidates are and what the key issues are - you can read our explainer here.

Elections are taking place in local councils across the North East, along with the North East and Tees Valley mayors, and police and crime commissioners.

For for the full details, including which elections are taking place and what you need to vote, click on the link below.

• Local elections 2024: When and where are they, and who can vote?

BBC

Analysis: Side-swipes rather than direct hits

Luke Walton

Political correspondent, BBC North East and Cumbria

There haven’t been many direct hits in this debate, but there have been some side-swipes.

Independent Jamie Driscoll questioned the record of Labour's Kim McGuinness as Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner.

She in turn questioned his claims to have created thousands of jobs saying many had already been in the pipeline while others hadn’t emerged.

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Aidan King continued to plug his key policy of building the country’s biggest wind farm in the region – despite queries as to whether he would have the power and finance to do this.

'The mayor needs to help rural areas as well'

Getty Images

In response to the final question, all the candidates agreed the new mayor would have to fight for rural areas as well as the towns and cities.

Guy Renner-Thompson said the mayor had to "make sure" government money "gets into rural areas".

Kim McGuinness said people in the countryside felt "left behind" and there needed to be better transport links for them.

Jamie Driscoll said "on demand transport", which people booked as they needed it, was a solution.

Aidan King said he would devolve the mayor's powers for "local communities", for example giving parish councils the ability to make compulsory purchases which would spark a "revival in local democracy".

Paul Donaghy said there were a "log of good businesses" in rural areas such as Northumberland but there needed to be transport links to get people to them.

Andrew Gray said the mayor needed to "invest directly into local communities" to keep the money "circulating locally".

Question: How will you help rural communities?

Our final question comes from Jackie Maxwell, who works at Doddington Dairy in Northumberland.

She says: "I’m worried that the new mayor will be more focused on spending money in cities like Newcastle and Sunderland rather than solving problems in rural areas like ours.

"How will they ensure that rural places are not forgotten?”

Jackie Maxwell

Can the mayor solve the education puzzle?

Luke Walton

Political correspondent, North East and Cumbria

Getty Images

Improving educational attainment and skills among all age groups will be a high priority for the North East mayor and combined authority.

The region has long lagged behind other parts of the country when it comes to the number getting top grades at GCSE and A-level and the proportion of 18-year-olds going to university.

Local employers complain they can’t get the skills and qualifications they are needing, particularly in areas like engineering and computer science.

Now there are fears the problem will worsen after the coronavirus pandemic hit learning among northern children and students particularly hard.

Question: How will you help the skills shortage?

Andrew Esson

From finding a home to finding workers, our sixth question comes from Andrew Esson of Turnmill Engineering in Washington.

He says: "Our sector is suffering from a chronic skills shortage and, despite many initiatives, not enough young people are choosing careers in science and technology.

"I would like to know what the mayor is going to do to address this."

What will the mayor do about housing?

Luke Walton

Political correspondent, North East and Cumbria

Getty Images

A growing shortage of affordable homes – both to buy and rent – will loom large in the mayoral in-tray.

The North East isn’t building nearly enough of them to keep up with growing demand.

And in communities where prices and rents are particularly high, including rural towns like Hexham and Alnwick, there are complaints too many of the homes that are built are beyond the pockets of first-time buyers.

Across the region there are more than 60,000 people waiting for a council or housing association home.

And Citizens Advice Bureaux in the North East recently told the BBC that the number of renters coming to them for help has doubled in a year.

'We need more homes'

In response to Jack's question about housing, the candidates were largely agreed there was a need for more affordable homes.

Aidan King said he would have a "bold plan" to build 100,000 news homes using "modern methods" and the compulsory purchase of land to "unlock large quantities of greenfield sites".

Andrew Gray (pictured below) said it was "far more important to focus on the housing we've already got" and make homes much more energy efficient and cheaper to run, as well as build new housing on brownfield sites.

BBC

Jamie Driscoll said the "number one solution" was to build brownfield housing.

Kim McGuiness said there was need for more social housing with 66,000 people currently on the waiting list across the region, while also addressing affordability and being able to seize properties from "rogue landlords".

BBC

Guy Renner-Thompson (pictured above) said the mayor had to "get on" and build more homes on brownfield sites and greenfield areas "in the right places where the community is in favour", while renters needed to be "made aware of the powers they have" and wages need to be increased so people could "afford to live in the region they love".

Paul Donaghy said more affordable housing needed to be built and "existing stocks" required improvement.

Question: Can you help me find an affordable home?

Jack Matheson

Question five comes from Jack Matheson in Bedlington, Northumberland.

He says: "I currently live with my parents in Bedlington.

"I’d like a place of my own but I can’t afford it.

"How will the mayor be able to help me with this?"

How can the mayor tackle transport?

Luke Walton

Political correspondent, North East and Cumbria

BBC

The new North East mayor will have significant funds to improve local transport and the task of shaping a new strategy to better connect the road, rail, Metro and bus network.

The region has long been dogged by ageing infrastructure and public transport that can’t always be relied on to get you from A to B when required.

The number of bus services, for example, has halved in Northumberland and County Durham since 2008, according to recent analysis from Leeds University and Friends of the Earth.

Many of the candidates support bringing buses back under public control, arguing that would mean new routes and more frequent services, along with better integration with the Metro.

But the recent experience of Greater Manchester, suggests public franchising could prove a slow and complex process, and critics would argue expensive too.

Question: Will Washington get a rail link?

From buses to trains, question four comes from Adam Robson from Washington.

He says: "Washington is one of the biggest towns in England without a rail link.

"I want to know what the mayoral contenders would do to fix this."

Adam Robson

Analysis: 'First real spat of debate'

Luke Walton

Political correspondent, North East and Cumbria

The clash over whether to bring buses back under public control brings the first real spat in this debate.

Conservative Guy Renner-Thompson calls the idea “crazy” claiming it will leave the public picking up the bill. Instead he wants to work with existing bus firms to improve and integrate services.

But Labour’s Kim McGuinness says Greater Manchester is already showing that public franchising means lower fares and better coordinated services.

Independent Jamie Diriscoll also says publicly-run buses would mean better value services rather than cash going into private profits.

But the experience of Greater Manchester shows a shift to public control of buses will be complex and could take years – perhaps as many as four or five years – so any potential benefits to passengers will take time to emerge.

Dispute over who should control buses

There is some division among the candidates over what to do with the buses.

Some want the mayor to take control, others want the current franchise system involving private companies to be improved.

Jamie Driscoll (pictured below) said a "fully integrated public transport system" was needed.

BBC

Guy Renner-Thompson said bringing the buses under mayoral control was tantamount to "nationalisation" which could be a burden to taxpayers, adding the solution was to make the current system better.

Andrew Gray said the buses need to be regulated by the mayor with the "timetables and routes based on need rather than bus company interest". He said private operators should still be involved but under mayoral control.

BBC

Paul Donaghy (pictured above) suggested a "hybrid" version where the mayor would take control of the "less profitable routes" which were still "vital services".

Kim MGuinness said it was "urgent" to get control of the buses under a "single brand".

Question: How will you improve the buses?

BBC/Duncan Leatherdale

With improving transport one of the key objectives of the new mayor, our third question is all about the buses.

Anne Casson from Newcastle asks: "How will the new mayor provide a better, more reliable, and more affordable bus service?"

Some of the questions which are coming in

Helen Richardson

Political correspondent, BBC Radio Newcastle

A look at some of the comments which are coming in during the debate.

Some people in rural areas are raising concerns they will miss out compared to big cities.

Also on the rural theme people are asking about what the candidates will do to improve transport.

And someone asks what specialist provision will they ensure for those with disabilities.

Question: How will you help coalfield communities?

Alison Patterson

From high streets to coalfields, the second question comes from Alison Patterson who is the manager of Blackhall Community Centre in east Durham.

She asks: "What will you do for east Durham and the coalfields to stop us being left behind more than we already are?"

'High Streets need help'

In response to the first question about the future of the regions high streets, the candidates are largely in agreement.

Businesses need support to adapt to changing times and methods of shopping.

Kim McGuinness (pictured below), Labour, said she would want to create a plan based on business needs to "revive them".

BBC

Jamie Driscoll, independent, said healthy high streets need "businesses to be successful" which requires mayoral support while more community hubs would bring in footfall.

Guy Renner-Thompson, Conservative, said better industries with higher wages would increase the money people have in their pockets to spend with local businesses while it needs to be made easier for people to drive into town centres.

Paul Donaghy, Reform UK, would want to establish a fund to help small businesses.

BBC

Aidan King (pictured above), Liberal Democrat, reiterated his desire to build Europe's largest onshore windfarm which would bring jobs and wages to be spent in high street shops.

Andrew Gray, Green Party, said a "vibrant high street was essential" and they needed to be made "nicer places" especially for pedestrians and cyclists.

Question: Can you save our high streets?

Sangeeta Chopra

The first question for today's debate comes from Sangeeta Chopra, owner of Namaste Taste of India cafe at the Newcastle Quays retail park.

She asks: "I would like to know what the new mayor will be doing to turn around the fortunes of the high street?"