Angela Rayner to meet with metro mayors in Newcastle as Volodymyr Zelensky travels to Downing Street

West Yorkshire’s Tracy Brabin will miss the event due to her tour of America to drum up investment for the region.

It is understood that the meeting, which will be chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, will discuss greater devolution for the metro mayors.

They are also due to update the Local Government Secretary, Ms Rayner, on their ongoing work to deliver local growth plans.

Ms Brabin said: “Mayors are champions of their regions at home and abroad, attracting investment, creating good jobs, and putting more money in people’s pockets.

"Our investments in transport, skills and homes, create the right environment for growth by connecting businesses to the talent and finance they need to succeed.”

It comes before Sir Keir Starmer chairs the first Council of Nations and Regions in Scotland tomorrow.

Ahead of that, the Prime Minister is meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and new Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Mr Zelensky is expected to put more pressure on Sir Keir to give permission to the Ukrainian army to use Storm Shadow missiles inside Russian territory.

The US and UK have so far refused to give Kyiv permission to use the missiles they have supplied against targets in Russia, despite repeated pleas from Mr Zelensky.

The Ukrainian president has previously said that he is having to fight with his hands tied because he is unable to use the weapons to strike Russian airfields and military facilities which President Vladimir Putin is using to launch deadly air raids, missiles and drones.