A minister has said that an elected Cumbrian mayor would be ‘transformative’ for the region.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, levelling up minister, Jacob Young MP said that a having a mayor covering Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness council would mean ‘would mean more powers and more funding going direct into the communities who need it.’

Mr Young was responding to Carlisle MP, John Stevenson’s latest column in The News and Star  in which he called for a Cumbrian mayor, similar to Andy Burnham in Manchester and Ben Houchen in the Tees Valley.

“I very much hope there will be a rethink from our councils, and they will be far more ambitious by embracing the opportunities that the mayoralty and devolution settlements offer, so that when it comes to the first Thursday of May 2025, the people of Cumbria can join the rest of the north in voting to for their own mayor with true powers and accountability,” said John in his column.

Mr Young has written to the two councils in Cumbria indicating he would be interested in discussing opportunities for Cumbria to enhance its levels of devolution and both Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness ‘welcomed the offer’ and said that they were open to future conversations.

Jacob Young MP said: “A Mayor covering both Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness would be transformative for Cumbria.

“It would mean more powers and more funding going direct into the communities who need it.

“We remain open to discussing ambitious devolution deals with council leaders in the region.”

On Thursday, May 2, people across the north of England will be heading to the polls to vote for their local mayor.

Greater Manchester, Tees Valley and the North East are all voting for their next mayor whilst Cumbrians will be voting in just the police, fire and crime commissioner elections.