May hits back at Burnham’s Northern Powerhouse ‘betrayal’ jibe

PRIME Minister Theresa May has moved to dispel fears she has only half-hearted commitment to the Northern Powerhouse following criticism from Shadow Home Secretary and Labour’s Manchester Mayoral candidate Andy Burnham.

In an article for The Liverpool Echo, May reaffirmed her commitment to the concept first mooted by then Chancellor George Osborne nearly two-and-a-half years ago.

Last month, Burnham claimed May had “changed her tune” on the Northern Powerhouse and risked carrying out “as big a betrayal of the North as Margaret Thatcher’s in the 1980s”.

The Leigh MP accused her of not being committed to re-balancing the economy and closing the north-south divide.

However, the Prime Minister highlighted key developments such as the expansion of Liverpool’s port and “significant investment from leading multinational companies like Unilever and Jaguar Land Rover”.

She said: “Crucially, we can see examples of innovation being driven jointly by the region’s universities and major industry.

“Projects like Sensor City – being delivered by the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moore’s University, backed by £5m of Government funding – which will establish a unique innovation centre in the heart of Liverpool’s internationally renowned ‘Knowledge Quarter’, creating more than 300 new businesses and 1,000 new jobs over the next decade.

“The University of Liverpool is also working with Unilever, again supported by Government funding, to invest £65m in the Materials Innovation Factory to provide cutting edge equipment to help discover new materials.

“In fact, Liverpool City Region has more high-growth firms than anywhere else in the country outside London.”

Theresa May said: “In order for these hubs of industry and innovation to flourish, we must improve transport connections so infrastructure provides a boost rather than a barrier to business.

“The government has committed a record £13bn investment in infrastructure across the North of England.

“That includes upgrading the M62 to improve links between Liverpool and Manchester – two of the great cities which make up the Northern Powerhouse, as well as up to £470m investment in Mersey Gateway Bridge and upgrading the A5036 to improve access from the growing Port of Liverpool to the wider motorway network.”

She added: “That’s why as well as providing Government investment, we must devolve real power from Westminster to the North West.

“In May next year, voters will have the first chance to vote for a Liverpool City Region Mayor, giving local people a greater voice, and a bigger say over the decisions that affect their lives day in, day out – including new powers over transport and skills – and ensuring these decisions are made in Liverpool, not London.”

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