More autonomy will lead to greater Manchester, says O’Neill

AN economic advisory panel comprising seven respected economists has urged Whitehall to loosen centralised controls to allow Manchester to achieve its potential.

Led by Goldman Sachs’ chairman of asset management, Jim O’Neill, the panel have written a new growth plan for the city which they have presented to the chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander MP.

Its recommendations include Manchester focussing its resources on encouraging more trade with the Far East, securing more funding for the city’s Business Growth Hub, and giving the city greater discretion over the tax revenues that it generates.

The group has also called for a unified planning regime to be implemented in the city, more control over local greenbelt and the reinstatement of Daresbury as one of the UK’s two national science campuses.

Jim O’Neill, chair of the Greater Manchester Economic Advisory Panel, said: “Growth in the UK would be boosted if Manchester – leading the way for other big cities too – has enough freedom to make decisions.

“The actual employers and civic leaders on the ground know what’s best for the city – free them up from too much national bureaucracy and let them get on with it.”