Council leaders lobby Cameron on growth

COUNCIL leaders from major cities across the UK – including Liverpool and Manchester – have written to Prime Minister David Cameron urging the Government to join them in “an ambitious programme for jobs and growth”.

The newly launched Cabinet of Core Cities is looking to maximise the economic potential of the regions and the UK’s big cities, rebalance the economy and boost national growth and employment.

The letter from the new Cabinet has been signed by the eight leaders of the biggest city economies outside of the South East.

In the letter to Mr Cameron, the leaders reiterates their support for the Government’s City Deals, but stress the need to “go further” on key policy issues, and call for “increased dialogue and commitment” from central Government.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council and chairman of the Cabinet of Core Cities, said: “This announcement is a significant offer to Government and signals the ambition of the Core Cities Group to go further to create jobs and growth.  

“The evidence is clear; core cities drive growth outside the South East. If we want to rebalance the economy, have more growth and jobs, this can only be delivered at scale by the core cities and their wider urban areas.  

“Government has recognised this through the City Deals process, which we have all welcomed, but we now need to go the extra mile.”   

Other members of the Cabinet include Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson and senopr political leaders from Sheffield, Leeds and Birmingham.

The cabinet will adopt a portfolio structure, meet regularly and work to develop new policies.