CONSERVATIVE plans to scrap regional development agencies (RDAs) will be a "huge setback" for the North West and are driven by "political spite".

That's the view of business secretary Lord Mandelson who spoke to the TheBusinessDesk after discussing regional development and national infrastructure improvements at the University of Manchester on Friday.

Last week shadow business secretary Kenneth Clarke said a Conservative Government would replace the RDAs with local enterprise partnerships that would be made up of bus......for the full story register now for free or login below...