Kim McGuinness

North East Mayor

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

I’m delighted that Nissan is building their Kicks model in Sunderland. It’s a £170m vote of confidence in North East car making and the people who work in our industry. We’ve backed our automotive sector in the electric transition and it is paying off with four models on the books at Nissan now. This is good news for North East workers and North East jobs.

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

The weather forecast has been checked approximately 47 times. The trainers are ready. The carb loading is complete. The training...well let’s hope for the best. 😬

Now there’s only one thing left to say: good luck to everyone taking part in the @Great_Run today.❤️

Whether you’re chasing a PB or just chasing the finish line, we’re all behind you! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

In the North East we are so proud to have the Great North Run. Today be proud of taking part. 🏅

[North East Public Transport Users Group (NEPTUG) @NorthEastPTUG]

⏰ Only 3 weeks left to have your say and support bus franchising in the North East.

It’s time to take back control of our buses.

For more info see OUR site: https://t.co/2dhT162t2w

Want BETTER BUSES?
Speak up now, at: https://t.co/bWsRxjFvYq
👩‍💻 📱

[Live Theatre @LiveTheatre]

Tickets are going fast for our panel discussion this Fri 11 Sep, 8pm - The Radical North East: Is This Our Moment? in partnership with @NewStatesman & chaired by their editor @TomMcTague
Panellists (pictured) include North East Mayor @KiMcGuinness
Labour Member of Parliament for Newcastle Central & West Constituency Dame @ChiOnwurah MP
Middlesborough playwright @IshyDin
Cultural commentator @Alex_Niven (author of The North Will Rise Again).
Tickets £10, book now at https://t.co/3oYATXIIBC

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

It’s been back to school this week for thousands of young people across the North East. 🎒

Good luck and I hope you’re off to a great start. ☺️

Whether you’re starting college, sixth form, an apprenticeship or university, getting there shouldn’t cost a fortune.

That’s why if you’re 21 or under, you can get ‘round for a pound on the bus, or travel all day across the region for just £3 with my Mayor’s Fares.

Because where you live should never limit where you can go.

Have a brilliant first week back! 💖🚌

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

On today’s BBC Newcastle phone-in I was asked what I’m going to do to re-industrialise the North. Here’s just some of the ways:

👉 Investing in off-shore wind
👉 Training and skills for local people
👉 Double the number of green jobs by 2035
👉 Winning big contracts = bringing more jobs to the NE

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

@nick_winder Huge good luck and congrats. You’ll be fab. I can’t see her on x but I think Miss Fraser (Geordie Teacher) is absolutely fab

https://t.co/yn6zwpCfrb

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

Nurdle Update

Now is not the time to cut the number of people paid to be out there on our beaches cleaning up nurdles. My team has contacted Solis Marine, the company organising the clean-up on behalf of the shipping insurers, to ask them to explain why casual workers have been stood down, and to get a commitment from them that they will respond immediately as new nurdle deposits wash up or are uncovered in the sand.

I’ve always said the polluter must pay and that means the insurer for the container ship BG Orange. They should not be allowed to decide on their own what a proper clean-up looks like. Our local volunteers have given up their time and worn themselves out combing beaches. They will be dismayed and I am standing up for them to demand answers.

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

Stopping huge profits to private companies so our bus service improves...sounds like a no brainer to me 🚌

Tell me what you think https://t.co/FMsyq3x8uP

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

We’re taking more power from Westminster and taking back control of our own future.

I know this can only be a good thing for the people of the North East and the PM @andyburnham agrees.

Let’s get it done.

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

https://t.co/VjdDtKcBYF

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

3 and a half weeks to go until the @Great_Run Great North Run and I feel a long way away from a half marathon. Still, every run counts.

A reminder, I’m running for the brilliant @tcfcharity this year. They work to make sure every child across the North East gets a great start in life. We’ve worked together to give over 3500 baby boxes to families that need them but there’s always more to do.

I appreciate every penny of sponsorship- link in the post below. ❤️

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

Everyone in.

Today I welcomed new PM @andyburnham and communities secretary @AngelaRayner to Newcastle to announce plans to make sure there’s a bed for every rough sleeper that wants one by Christmas. There was nowhere better to do this than @ChangingLives__ Alex’s place in Elswick. They already do exceptional work and it was good of David and Ivan to share their experiences with us.

Of course I used the opportunity to bang the drum for everything we’re doing in the North East too and to make sure our priorities are heard loud and clear.

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

Our battle to clean polluting nurdles from the North East’s beaches and the Tyne continues. The volunteer community is amazing and I am fighting for them to get more support.

I’ve said throughout the polluters must pay and today the shipping company insurers have said they are going to double the size of their teams working to clean up beaches from Northumberland to Sunderland.

That can’t come soon enough. This weekend we’re going to see high ‘spring’ tides on our beaches. Volunteer groups are appealing to people to come out on Saturday after the highest tide when nurdles are likely to be washed up in larger numbers so we can all help clean them away quickly.

This week I also met Environment Minister Stephen Morgan with volunteers at Littlehaven in South Shields to demand more action from Government.

The Environment Agency has sent vessels to survey both the river and sea and is joining our scientific advisory group. This will make sure we understand the impact on sea birds, fish and mammals I know so many people are worried about.

The Port of Tyne opened the river to volunteer boats alongside their own this week - they cleaned 37kg of nurdles and other waste from the river in just two hours. I’ve asked the Port to find more times volunteer boats can work without risk from commercial ships so we can build on this terrific effort.

And I’ve asked our local councils to do all they can to make sure special bins are set out and clearly signposted on the beaches as part of this.

Council patrols show there are fewer nurdles washing up on beaches daily, but there are millions left in the Tyne and out at sea so we cannot afford to stop.

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

We’re bringing the @My_Metro to Washington- the first new Metro line in 30 years. I want everyone to be able to ask questions and make comments on plans for the route and stations at drop in events this September.

This is all part of our vision for the Angel Network – delivering a world-class transport system for local people. The route has been surveyed by engineers to identify possible locations for three new stations and I want to share that with local people to see what they think.

Head over to the Nexus website for full dates and locations.

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

A huge good luck to young people across the North East getting their A-level, BTec and T-level results today. There’s so much talent in this region and it’s an exciting day as so many plot bright futures filled with opportunities.

I want to make sure we have even more opportunity for our young people right here in the North East. That’s why I’ve been calling for the powers to take control of the skills training offer for those 16 years olds that don’t want to take a traditional route.

It’s a huge step forward that the Prime Minister has agreed to grant us that power and it means we can support our next generation much earlier with the courses that’ll lead them to great well-paid jobs.

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

I won’t let up on the fight to clean our beaches and rivers of nurdle pollution. Today we met with just some of our community volunteers who are doing a fantastic job to make sure they have what they need.

We've set up a new volunteer liaison group so volunteers can work more closely with local councils, the Port and other agencies.

The polluter must pay, and we need more support from the Government for agencies in our region, and to fill the gaps in our response.

Defra needs to lead ways to make sure our sea life and bird population is protected - the North East public are rightly concerned at the impact on nature.

Here are the actions I’ve taken for you:

Specifically I have asked Defra to:

1. Ensure all Defra agencies increase the scale and pace of their response to this environmental disaster in the North East, where necessary going beyond strict duties and responsibilities
2. Provide clarity on which Defra agencies cover which elements of the response to an incident of this nature – including both clean up and long term impacts to nature and fisheries - and communicate this to local partners
3. Work across UK Government departments to ensure the UK Government response is complete and effective and that any gaps in coverage are filled. This includes the Department of Transport and their Maritime and Coastguard Agency that has a leading role.
4. Work with local partners to ensure the clean-up response isn’t limited by the willingness of Shipping and insurance companies to cover costs

Specifically I have asked the Environment Agency, in a letter to CEO Philip Duffy:

1. Using resources available to you to aid the identification and removal of plastic pellets on the river Tyne. If we don’t tackle the river then new pellets will get washed out to sea and onto beaches with every tide. It isn’t easy for volunteers to support on the river Tyne but you have boats and trained staff that could support.
2. Help ensure this can never happen again. Specifically supporting us to explore regulations, guidance and standards that would prevent the release of millions of plastic pellets in the event of a crash in North East ports, roads or rail.
3. Working with Defra bodies the MMO, CEFAS, Natural England to monitor and respond to long term impacts on our North East nature, including fisheries whilst also providing clear guidance on the safety of bathing waters across the region so local people and tourists can once again enjoy our beautiful beaches.

[North East Public Transport Users Group (NEPTUG) @NorthEastPTUG]

We are encouraging the public to respond positively to the Mayor’s Bus Franchising Consultation.
We want an integrated, reliable, affordable, simple to use network.
For more info, see our site: https://t.co/2dhT162t2w

Have your say! Show your support at https://t.co/bWsRxjFvYq

[Kim McGuinness @KiMcGuinness]

The North East is doing all it can to clean our beaches and rivers of nurdles. We have made sure the polluter pays and shipping companies have sent a specialist team and equipment to help. The huge volunteer effort is underway every day and I can’t thank those giving their time enough.

But this is a major crisis. The Tyne is still full of nurdles. I’ve spoken to the Environment Secretary and made clear we need the support of Government agencies to help our fight. Now I’ve written to the head of the Environment Agency demanding they step up their work - and help me make sure this can never happen again here or anywhere.