May’s £556m boost for ‘Northern Powerhouse’ as strategy is unveiled
SENIOR members of the Government passed through Runcorn on Monday ahead of the Prime Minister’s first regional cabinet meeting.
Rail passenger and Twitter user @TomJohnson05 spotted figures foreign secretary Boris Johnson, environment secretary Andrea Leadsom and health secretary Jeremy Hunt disembarking a train and heading for the exit at Runcorn Station mid-morning.
The sighting came ahead of Prime Minister Theresa May’s first regional cabinet meeting at Sci-Tech Daresbury, where she unveiled her industrial strategy aimed at creating a ‘stronger future’ following the UK’s exit from the European single market.
The plans include a £556m boost for the socalled ‘Northern Powerhouse’, an overhaul of technical education and £170m cash for an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and innovation.
Liverpool City Region enterprise partnership is due to receive £72m under the plans.
The Prime Minister opened the cabinet meeting with an address to her ministers on the strategy for industry, set to include more Government intervention.
Mrs May later toured Sci-Tech Daresbury, established in 2006 by developers Langtree, the Science And Technology Facilities Council (STFC), and Halton Borough Council.
About 1,200 people work on site, including around 500 scientists working in a variety of fields including advanced engineering, digitalICT, biomedical and energy and environmental technologies.
During her visit, Mrs May said: “This is a very important part of our plan for Britain.
“This is how we shape a stronger future for the UK and also ensure we are building a fairer Britain and a better Britain.
“And I think it is absolutely right we are launching this strategy, here in the North West, ● Twitter users @TomJohnson05 spotted Cabinet members Boris Johnson, and Andrea Leadsom at Runcorn station ● because one of the themes that underpins what we are doing in the industrial strategy and underpins our plan for Britain, is ensuring we drive growth across the whole of the UK, that we ensure we are building on the strengths of different parts of our economy and different parts of the UK, and that we see prosperity and opportunity spread across the country so everybody has those opportunities to get on in life.
“And you’ll see through the industrial strategy, the pillars that are in here, the importance of issues like infrastructure, skills, ensuring young people have the skills they need for the future, working, looking at the way in which clusters can help to drive economic growth.
“We are seeing very clearly here at Daresbury, I’ve just been hearing about the work done, the new companies that are brought together here and accessing facilities.
“This is all about driving our economy for the future. This is important anyway, but as we leave the European Union we want to ensure we are that truly global Britain with an economy in the right shape for the future and driving that growth, so we really do have an economy in the country that works for everyone
“So, there’s a lot of work to be done and I suggest we just get on with it.”
Speaking ahead of the visit she said: “The modern industrial strategy will back Britain for the long-term – creating the conditions where successful businesses can emerge and grow, and backing them to invest in the long-term future of our country.
“It will be underpinned by a new approach to government, not just stepping back but stepping up to a new, active role that backs business and ensures more people in all corners of the country share in the benefits of its success.”