‘Come and see our potential’: Council leader invites new PM Burnham to opening of Maritime Museum
INVITATION: Councillor Mike Ross. Picture credit: Neil Holmes
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
City council leader Mike Ross has invited new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to visit Hull to “understand the great potential of our city and region”.
Mr Burnham, the recently elected Labour MP for Makerfield and former Mayor of Greater Manchester, formally took over as Prime Minister today after meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer to become the UK’s sixth PM in ten years.
Councillor Ross today wrote to the new PM inviting him to attend the reopening of Hull’s Maritime Museum on August 8.
And noting Mr Burnham’s previous announcement to decentralise power from Westminster with plans for a “No. 10 North”, Coun Ross also suggested “Hull could provide a great home for a northern branch of a Government Ministry”.
He also asked for Hull’s ambition for rail electrification to be supported after the city was excluded from a £45bn plan to upgrade Northern railways announced by Sir Keir’s government in January.
Coun Ross, the Liberal Democrat leader of the council, began his letter: “Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on becoming Prime Minister and I wish you and your Government the very best of success as you work to deliver on the priorities of your new Cabinet, addressing the challenges facing our nation.
“From your last role as a northern Mayor, you will know that Hull is a truly great city and a place with tremendous talent and a strong ambition to succeed. Our residents, communities and businesses are hugely ambitious for our place and united in our determination to get the best for our people.
“We are clear that the best is yet to come for our city, and we want to work with you and your team to make sure this is the case.
Coun Ross previously invited Sir Keir to the city during his premiership, although he did not take up the offer of meeting the council leader when he did visit.
Speaking to The Hull Story, Coun Ross said: “When even Labour MPs complained that Sir Keir Starmer didn’t know who they were, it is no surprise he didn’t make the time to meet with the council leadership when in Hull.
“Andy Burnham is promising he will do politics differently. Making a visit to Hull, where the council has a Lib Dem leadership, not his own party, would be a real sign he means it.”
Inviting the new PM to the Maritime Museum opening – the main element of the landmark £70m Hull Maritime project – Coun Ross wrote: “…I would like to invite you to visit us for the major event, either on that day or at a date and time that suits you, so that you can see for yourself what we have achieved and, crucially, the future potential that our great city and region has to offer.
“Come to Hull and see for yourself just what a role the city can play in your plans to change the country.”
The letter also stresses driving economic growth and core funding for essential council services as matters he would like Mr Burnham and his team to respond to “as a matter of urgency”.
Coun Ross added: “From his time as a Northern mayor, the Prime Minister is aware that Hull is a truly great city – a place with tremendous talent and a strong ambition to succeed.
“It is important he is aware of the economic challenges of places like Hull, particularly as a result of central government funding cuts. In Hull there is a positive story of how we have successfully tackled the major challenges of balancing budgets and maintaining essential services.
“With the right partnerships and with necessary support from government, Hull can thrive further, boost its economy even more and build on its offer.
“I am extending a warm welcome to Mr Burnham to visit Hull early in his tenure, to help to understand the city greater and learn as to why our city is one worth investing in and how it could become part of his new-style government.”