Thank you for your interest in this story
To continue reading this article, subscribe to the Stray Ferret for as little as £1 a week
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
09
Oct
North Yorkshire mayor rules out business class flights to India
The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has revealed whether he will fly business or economy class on a trade visit to India.
A spokesperson for the Labour mayor said “every effort” had been made to minimise costs to taxpayers as he joins a Northern delegation seeking to secure a share of a potential £170 million annual economic boost for the region, including investment, jobs and trade opportunities.
Mr Skaith will not be flying business or first class when he joins fellow metro mayors, including Tracy Brabin, Oliver Coppard and Kim McGuinness on the mission from October 11 to 16, which represents the first major regional response to the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which came into force in July.
A spokesperson for Mr Skaith said:
This is our first international trade mission, and we are stepping onto the global stage with partners from across the Great North to strike new deals and bring high-quality jobs back home.
The mayor will be flying economy class, and every effort has been made to minimise costs to the public purse.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), they added:
We already share strong cultural and economic ties with India, but this is our chance to turn those connections into new opportunities for everyone.
The Labour mayors for West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, and for Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, have also faced scrutiny over their international travel arrangements.
Mayor David Skaith (far left) with some of the other delegates.
The Mayor of West Yorkshire has said she will be flying in economy class when she goes to India on the trade mission.
This week, Tracy Brabin confirmed she "will not be flying business – and never has, at taxpayers’ expense”.
But she told the BBC there could be benefits:
Jet lag is a real thing and I want to work really hard for the people of West Yorkshire. It’s breakfast meetings right through to the evenings – these are long days and intense.
Greater Manchester mayor Bev Craig recently said that whether she travels business or economy class “depends on where I’m going”.
She said:
If I have to work the next day, then we’ll do it on a case-by-case basis.
She added:
When I’m flying in Europe, definitely, definitely economy, but there might be occasions where if I’ve got to get off a plane and go straight into a full day of business meetings with global chief execs from firms, then I might need a bit more rest.
The trade mission to India will involve about 200 representatives from across the North, including mayors, businesses, universities and leaders from tourism, culture and sport, who are hoping to promote the North’s economic opportunity. The mission runs from October 11 to 16.
Planned activities include pitching the region’s investment opportunities directly to Indian investors and businesses, bringing together Northern and Indian businesses for networking, and connecting companies from across the North with potential Indian customers, investors and commercial partners.
Jonathan Reynolds, business and trade secretary, said:
From agreeing the India trade deal with Minister Goyal in Hyde Park last year to seeing it come into force this summer, the coalition of Northern mayors and businesses is an exciting initiative in the next stage our partnership, which is packed with economic opportunities from our most significant deal to date.
From Sunderland to Skye, this is what will drive economic growth across the country, where government lays the groundwork for businesses and organisations to work together with international partners to create jobs and opportunities for now and for the future.
1