Rural regions deserve just as much of a voice as urban ones, and they have just as much to offer
3 min read
Rural communities across the UK are an untapped source of potential economic growth for the whole country.
Voters in these communities put their faith in Labour like never before last year. Labour now represents more rural constituencies in Parliament than any other party, and despite conventional wisdom and polling I was fortunate to be elected as the first Mayor of York and North Yorkshire representing the Labour and Co-operative Party.
York and North Yorkshire is the first area in a new wave of devolution. In 2024, areas like ours were the first Combined Authority not to bring together multiple large urban towns and cities. Instead, York and North Yorkshire brings together the vibrant city of York with bustling market towns and the often-forgotten coastal communities of North Yorkshire. We’re home to two national parks, popular tourist towns, and heaps of potential.
With new mayoralties with a similar profile in Hull and East Yorkshire and Greater Lincolnshire, rural and coastal communities have never had the exposure that they have now. The government’s commitment to devolution should be celebrated; more local voices sat around the top table and speaking up for their region can only be a good thing.
There is, of course, a strong moral case for tackling rural disadvantage. But the economic case is even more compelling. Research from The Rural Coalition shows that closing the rural-urban productivity gap could add a staggering £87 bnto the UK economy – a boost the nation can’t afford to ignore.
We’re getting on with it. In York and North Yorkshire, we’ve set clear priorities: accelerating delivery of net-zero and housing projects, investing in food, farming and rail innovation, and fixing broken transport and digital connections. These aren’t just local needs – they’re national opportunities.
York and North Yorkshire stands ready to support the government to meet their Plan for Change. We are a region of unique growth potential and opportunity, especially for food and farming innovation.
We have a rich heritage in farming and food manufacturing, from artisan cheesemongers to global brands such as Nestle and McCains, and a world-class science base, including the University of York and the headquarters for the UK Agri-tech Centre. In York and North Yorkshire, we’re going beyond farm to fork and embracing the science and research along the whole journey.
That’s why front and centre in our Local Growth Plan is supporting innovation in the sector. Through supporting innovation in our farming sector, we can support national ambitions around growth as emphasised in the emerging Industrial Strategy, alongside addressing food security and working with DEFRA on the National Food Strategy.
Having a Mayor in York and North Yorkshire has given us the opportunity to sit at the top table and put forward our local priorities – access and prominence that our region has never had.
This is our moment. By focusing on what we do best and fixing the foundations that hold us back, York and North Yorkshire is ready to become a national engine of rural growth – a model for what a modern, connected, and ambitious rural economy can deliver.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire
