The problem for MME with both Jet2 and Ryanair is the bases at LBA and NCL. There are probably examples in other areas where there are clusters of bases, but the North East isn't the richest of regions. NCL hasn't recovered pax numbers from the financila slump in 2007 - the only major airport in the UK that hasn't - and that's with MME being at a low ebb. The north east is also squeezed by EDI and LBA which have grown tremendously in the last 20 years, and have bigger/richer local markets.
The best thing Mayor Ben can do for MME is to improve the local economy, which will increase the propensity/ability of north easterners to fly.