City mayor quits Northern Powerhouse Partnership

Joe Anderson

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson has quit the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) claiming it no longer has any influence on government policy.

Mr Anderson said the NPP was “set up by a government which isn’t prepared to listen”.

Former Chancellor, George Osborne, first used the term ‘Northern Powerhouse’ in 2014 in relation to economic growth plans for the North of England.

But Mr Anderson said he can “no longer see the point of being a part of these bodies”.

The NPP describes itself as an independent body that “represents the voice of business and civic leaders” in the region.

It has been chaired by George Osborne since 2016.

In its Northern Powerhouse strategy, in the same year, the Government said it would invest in better transport and boost business and skills.

But austerity cuts, particularly a failure to improve vital rail links across the region, have taken their toll on the NPP’s ambitions.

Mr Anderson said: “We can’t cut our way out of austerity.

“You have to invest for the long-term economic benefit and there is overwhelming evidence that investing in connections across the North would be good for UK plc.

“There are several bodies in the North, such as the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and Transport for the North, providing government with this evidence but I no longer see the point of being a part of these bodies, set up by a government which isn’t prepared to listen to them.”

By way of an example, Mr Anderson quotes Channel 4’s decision to create a new headquarters in Leeds, rather than fellow bidder Liverpool.

He said: “Channel 4 made clear that they weren’t going to choose Liverpool because of its poor connections, a reference to our not sitting on the HS2 network.

“This is a display of the real economic consequence of government’s failure to invest in anywhere outside of London when we need it most.”

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership board also includes Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, president and vice-chancellor of The University of Manchester, and business leaders including Manchester Airports Group chief executive Charlie Cornish, Bruntwood chief executive Chris Oglesby and Siemens chief executive Prof Juergen Maier.

George Osborne, chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “I want to thank Joe for his big contribution to our Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

“I understand his frustration with the Government over the Northern Powerhouse agenda, especially its lack of vision for high speed rail.

“It’s precisely why we need our Northern Powerhouse Partnership to be as strong and as active as it is, and will continue to be.”

Cllr Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council, today confirmed she will remain on the NPP board.

She said: “I will be remaining on Northern Powerhouse Partnership’s board because as the North we must continue to make the case for what is right for our places, like my own city and the wider Sheffield City Region, because the Northern Powerhouse is a big idea with big benefits if we are supported by government to make the right investments.

“Transport connectivity to Manchester and Manchester Airport is hanging in the balance and I still have significant points of disagreement where promises risk being broken entirely.

“The Government backed us when I signed our devolution deal with them; we all need to play our part to make sure government, or anyone else, do not damage the prospects our young people and the future generations here in the North deserve.”

Mr Anderson joined the NPP think tank in September 2016.

He said he saw it as a way to keep pressure on the Government for more investment in the North.

He said: “My role is to speak out about local government in the Northern Powerhouse.

“What we have got to do is keep the pressure up on the Government. Part of the Northern Powerhouse is devolution and we need to make sure there are more powers devolved so the elected Mayor can make a real difference to the lives of people in the Liverpool city region.

“And it not just about the big cities of the North, it’s about all the areas whether it’s Warrington or West Lancs.”

Former chancellor and NPP chair, George Osborne, said that Theresa May had a “wobble” over his Northern Powerhouse project after she became Prime Minister, an indication that he had to fight to keep his flagship policy on track after being sacked from the Government in July, 2016.

But Mr Osborne insisted: “The Northern Powerhouse is here to stay.”

Meanwhile, professional services and engineering consultancy, WSP has been appointed as Partner to the Northern Powerhouse.

Jake Berry, The Northern Powerhouse Minister, said: “Providing jobs and local growth lies at the heart of our vision for the Northern Powerhouse. I welcome engineering and professional consultancy firm, WSP, as the latest member of the Northern Powerhouse Partners’ programme.

“Their work on upgrading the M62 between Warrington and Manchester, the Stockport Interchange and the Metrolink extension are all clear indications that WSP share our ambitions for improving people’s journeys and boosting economic growth, developing transport networks between our great towns and cities.”

He added: “We’re making the Northern Powerhouse a magnet for business, trade and tourism and this starts with making the North an even better place in which to live, work and travel.”

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