O governo quer crescimento. Ele entenderá a mão aberta do norte para fornecê -lo? Esse foi o desafio lançado pela Convenção da Reunião do Norte em Preston na semana passada. Sabemos onde o dinheiro é melhor gasto. Alguns de nós têm reservas sobre o modelo combinado de autoridade/prefeito eleito, em oposição à estrutura regional da NW, NE, Yorkshire e Humber, varrida pelos conservadores em 2010, mas esse navio navegou. No entanto, era irônico que Lancashire fosse o local da convenção, porque ainda está achando difícil conciliar diferenças com as dezenas de conselhos distritais. Ela também é a secretária do governo local e representa Ashton sob Lyne. Isso deve significar que o Norte dê uma olhada na mesa superior se ela puder ganhar batalhas com o Tesouro sobre o Livro Verde, que define os critérios de investimento e até agora favoreceu o sul mais populoso. John Prescott ocupou os dois postos e fez o melhor contra a oposição de Whitehall e a indiferença primeiro ministerial. O link atualizado de Crewe para o norte e o apoio para o sistema de trânsito rápido de West Yorkshire. A Grande Manchester e o West Midlands agora tinham controle sobre os gastos de 1 bilhão de libras. Todos eles tinham prioridades diferentes, que alguns comentaristas sentem enfraquecer a mensagem do norte. Transporte de Kim McGuinness (NE), Steve Rotheram (região da cidade de Liverpool) Mersey Barreira e Andy Burnham quer um novo centro de frete ferroviário em São Halens, afastando -o da área reconstruída em Manchester United. É uma parte vital da economia do norte e foi bom ouvir uma apresentação do único produtor de combustível nuclear do Reino Unido, Westinghouse, com sede em Springfield, perto de Preston. Cluster de IA, prevenção e cultura da saúde. O ano seguinte verá a mudança de governança nas partes não reformadas do norte, mas o investimento perderá para as crescentes necessidades de defesa?
Ministers have accelerated devolution which many feel is essential to economic growth in the North. We know where money is best spent. Some of us have reservations about the combined authority/elected mayor model as opposed to the NW, NE, Yorkshire and Humber regional structure swept away by the Tories in 2010, but that ship has sailed.
The whole of the North will eventually have combined authorities with elected mayors and unitary local councils. However it was ironic that Lancashire was the location for the Convention because it is still finding it difficult to reconcile differences with the dozen district councils.
The Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner spoke at the Convention. She is also the Local Government Secretary and represents Ashton Under Lyne. This should mean the North gets a look in at the top table if she can win battles with the Treasury over the Green Book which sets the criteria for investment and up to now has favoured the more populous south. John Prescott held both posts and did his best against entrenched Whitehall opposition and Prime Ministerial indifference.
Rayner was left in no doubt that administrative reform was not enough and investment in the myriad assets of the North was needed.
She failed to give backing to Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s demand for an HS2 lite scheme to link Manchester and Birmingham, pointing to the upgraded link from Crewe northwards and backing for the West Yorkshire rapid transit system instead.
Rayner said mayors would be given more power over planning and housing to “beat the blockers” Homes England, the affordable housing organisation would be regionalised. Greater Manchester and the West Midlands now had control over £1bn spending.
Most northern mayors spoke at the Convention, although not Ben Houchen, the Tory mayor of Tees Valley. They all had different priorities, which some commentators feel weakens the northern message. Kim McGuinness (NE)transport, Steve Rotheram (Liverpool City Region) Mersey Barrier and Andy Burnham wants a new rail freight hub in St Halens moving it away from the soon to be redeveloped Manchester United area.
There was a time when the nuclear industry had an image problem and operated in the shadows. It is a vital part of the Northern economy and it was good to hear a keynote presentation from the UK’s only nuclear fuel producer, Westinghouse, based at Springfield near Preston.
The Vice Chancellor of York University urged the North to go big on an AI offer as that was what Oxford/Cambridge were going with their industrial partners.
The Convention identified its gamechangers, rail, clean energy, an AI cluster, ill health prevention and culture. The next year will see governance change in the unreformed parts of the North, but will investment lose out to the growing needs of defence?
