draft Tees Valley Combined Authority (Functions) order 2017

Gavin Shuker Excerpts

Tuesday 21st February 2017 General Committees

[Andrew Percy]

I thank the shadow Secretary of State for what was a generally positive response to the journey of devolution if not, necessarily, to its structure. She is right about the shadow Minister. He and I have gone to head to head on every single one of these orders thus far. In every instance, we have debated the issue of a mayoralty, whether it was within or outwith the particular order before us, and have debated at length the future of devolution across the rest of England and the different structures and options available to local authorities who might wish to reform themselves.

We have also debated turnout, at length. In today’s Opposition it is not always clear that there is consistency but we certainly had consistency today from the shadow Secretary of State, which is something we do not see very often from the Opposition Benches. On that, she can go back and report positively—

[Mr Gavin Shuker (Luton South) (Lab/Co-op)]

Very ill-judged!

[Andrew Percy]

This is a positive statement about the quality of the Opposition in the shadow CLG team, in that they seem to be on the same side.

The shadow Secretary of State made particular mention of a candidate, so I should even it up by saying that we have an excellent candidate in Ben Houchen. I hope, and feel, that this could be the year for us in the Tees Valley.