Prime Minister to reaffirm commitment to the North
The Prime Minister is today set to “reaffirm” his pledge to give even more powers to people, businesses and political leaders across Northern regions.
Boris Johnson will today speak at The Convention of the North at Magna, South Yorkshire; where he is expected to reiterate that he remains committed to delivering the Sheffield City Region Deal – and to opening up negotiations with Leeds and West Yorkshire.
It will also be announced that the government is to create a Northern Powerhouse growth body to drive forward the region’s economy. A Chair will be appointed to head up the body, working closely with the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse.
Speaking to local business leaders, mayors and councillors, the Prime Minister is expected to say: “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, he reaffirmed his commitment to delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail. The first step will be the Manchester to Leeds route, with detailed plans published this autumn, following the review into HS2.
“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,” Johnson will today state.
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.”
The Convention of the North and NP11 will today set out and debate a number of bold actions and radical ideas. Roger Marsh OBE, chair of the NP11 which brings together the 11 northern Local Enterprise Partnerships, will outline why the North must be placed front and centre of Government plans for UK competitiveness and prosperity beyond Brexit.
Policy proposals including creating a coherent Northern Powerhouse strategy, designed and led by the North, will be discussed.
The event will also hear that there needs to be a step-change in the level of investment allocated to the North – to be achieved by a long-term investment programme linked to the Northern Powerhouse Strategy.
Roger Marsh OBE, chair of the NP11 said: “Despite the clear economic opportunity the North represents, the North-South divide continues to widen, holding back our economy, our productivity and people’s opportunities.
“That is why this working convention today, the largest of its kind, is vital so that we go beyond discussion of the challenges we face and focus on the action we can take as northerners, working with national government, to build a North that works for everyone: for business, for people – for young people especially.
“We need bold ideas from the North and radical change from Government that leads to a seismic shift in funding and powers if we are to truly ‘level up’ the North. I very much look forward to contributing and listening to the debate that results from today so that we can together turn words into action.”
Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis added: “I’m delighted that the Sheffield City Region is hosting this significant event today. Our country stands at a time of great change, which presents both challenges and opportunities.
“By working together across the North, maximising collaboration between the public and private sectors and bridging the political divide, we can make the North’s case on a national and international level, power our economy and narrow the inequality gap that persists within the UK.”
The Convention of the North with NP11, supported by Government, brings together people from all parts of the North, including business leaders, council leaders and elected mayors, young people, education and third sector leaders, and central government. Those attending the event will debate policy across the key themes of skills and education, housing, transport, innovation, trade and investment, and clean growth.
The legacy of the event will be to produce a way ahead for the Northern Powerhouse and to present a set of policy “asks” to the Government – created by the North for the North.
