Boris pledges support for Northern Powerhouse

Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson is to renew the Government’s pledge to back the Northern Powerhouse project.

The Prime Minister is to create a new Northern Powerhouse growth body to drive forward the region’s economy, and with the powers to bring together major organisations working in the region.

A chair will be appointed to head up the body, working closely with Jake Berry, the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse.

Mr Johnson said: “It is time that we gave more people a say over the places where they live, and it is time that we gave you the proper ability to run things your way.

“We are going to maximise the power of the north. And we are going to make sure that it is people here who are in control over the things that matter to them.”

Last week on a visit to Yorkshire the Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to delivering the £39bn Northern Powerhouse Rai scheme.

The first step will be the Manchester to Leeds route, with detailed plans published this autumn, following the conclusion of the review into HS2.

The new route is expected to cut journey times significantly and provide additional capacity for people across the region.

Today the Prime Minister will reaffirm that one of his top domestic priorities will be to give more powers to local leaders to ensure communities are in control over the things that matter to them, such as transport, infrastructure and housing.

He said: “If we succeed in levelling up opportunity across our country, and if we truly put the power in your hands, then I believe you will do for the North – and for our whole country – what the railways did two centuries ago.

“That is the true potential of this Northern Powerhouse Partnership. And this is a Government that will back you to deliver it.”

Arianna Giovannini, interim director of IPPR North said: “The fact that the Prime Minister has today indicated his support for the principle of devolution to the North is to be welcomed, but what we must see now is a shift from rhetoric to action.

“The North has seen a succession of Westminster politicians make a series of promises that they haven’t kept, and devolution to date has been too often dictated by central government. The region needs not words, but actions- spades in the ground, investments in people and infrastructure, and crucially real devolved power.

“It is in the national interest for everyone- Government and Northern leaders- to work together to move the Northern Powerhouse into a positive new phase. One that works for the whole of the North, and which is of the North, by the North, for the North.”

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