‘No race’ between Midlands and North Whitehall denies it has ignored the region in national industrial strategy

THE government is to publish details of its ‘Midlands Engine’ after criticism it ignored the region in favour of the so-called ‘Northern Powerhouse’ in this week’s industrial strategy announcements.

Local Government Minister Marcus Jones said the economies were too important for the Midlands and North to be seen as competing against each other in a “race”.

Details of how £392 million will be spent to grow the Midlands economy are to be published by the Government in the next week.

The cash will be distributed across the West and East Midlands alongside the Government’s Midlands Engine strategy, led by Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid, MP for Bromsgrove.

Measures to improve transport services are likely to be included.

It follows the launch of the Government’s national industrial strategy, which focused on a £556 million cash boost for cities in the north of England. But Labour’s mayoral candidate for the West Midlands, Siôn Simon, accused the Government of ignoring the region, describing the announcement as a “kick in the teeth”.

Although Government publicity announcing the strategy made no mention of funding for the West Midlands, officials later revealed an announcement on Midland funding was imminent.

Local Government Minister Marcus Jones, MP for Nuneaton, said: “The Government will publish a Midlands Engine strategy shortly.

“We are working with departments across Government to set out the priorities for delivering the Midlands Engine. We will set out our plans to improve connectivity, employment, innovation and investment, which are all very important factors in improving the prosperity of people in the Midlands.”

Speaking in a Commons debate, the Minister said: “We have of course already published a Northern Powerhouse strategy.

“The future of our economy is too important for this to be seen as a race between the Northern Power- house and the Midlands Engine. We are working with each area on its specific needs to ensure that all of the UK is economically strong.”

The £392 million funding was first announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement last year.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce chief executive Paul Faulkner welcomed the focus on skills, infrastructure and investment growth in the new industrial strategy. But he said the Government must reinforce its commitment to regional growth by replicating its Northern Powerhouse investment in other parts of the country, including the Midlands.

He added: “We hope to see the level of additional investment in the Northern Powerhouse replicated in the Midlands in the near future and await the forthcoming Midlands Engine strategy with interest.

“The Midlands Engine area has an economy worth £222 billion each year and is home to over 11.5 million people. Our strengths in manufacturing, research, innovation and growing technology hubs represent real opportunities for meaningfully rebalancing the economy.”