‘Economic gap between South and North will widen after Brexit’

A widening gap will emerge between the economies of the South and the North after the UK’s departure from the EU, a report has suggested.

The UK Powerhouse study by law firm Irwin Mitchell and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), predicts that in 2020 Q4, annual GVA growth for Leeds will be 1.1%

Milton Keynes, Reading and Oxford will be in the top three for economic growth with no locations in the North in the top 10 with annual growth in all three Southern locations at around 2%.

The forecasts are based on the assumption that an amended version of the Brexit withdrawal agreement will form the basis of the future UK – EU relationship. It also assumes a transitional arrangement will be put in place that allows a continuation of the current relationship without any major disruptions until at least 2021.

There was better news in terms of employment for Leeds with the city appearing in the top five for job creation.

Paddy Sturman, a partner and head of business legal services at Irwin Mitchell in Leeds, said: “This report paints a mixed picture for Leeds. On one hand it shows that the growth in the South East continues to outpace the North, whilst on the other it points to the huge potential that the city has in terms of job creation.

“Brexit has and will continue to take up a lot of Government time, but it is vital that it refocuses its attention on rebalancing the UK economy and building on the potential within the Northern Powerhouse.”