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Can the North East’s devolution deal live up to the hype?

North East devolution tech
Image credit: Graham Hartley / Shutterstock

The current government, trounced in the local elections, has very little to shout about at present. This may help explain why it’s been so keen to shout loudly about the “historic trailblazer” agreement it signed back in March with North East council leaders to devolve powers to the region.

Levelling up minister Jacob Young said at the time that the devolution deal would “deliver transformational change across the North East.” He added: “Devolution is all about handing local communities the keys to their own future, with decisions taken by the people who know their areas best. Today the North East takes back control.”

In theory, it sounds excellent – particularly for a region that has plenty of raw talent and undiscovered gems in its tech sector, including biotech, but which is often drowned out by the noise from London....