York is ‘ideal location for second city of government’, leaders say
POLITICAL, BUSINESS and public service leaders from across York have united to lobby for the city to be chosen as a second seat of government and say the move would have “overwhelming public support”.
A letter, signed by figures including Greg Dyke, the chairman of economic and tourist organisation Make It York, the city’s two MPs and the chairman of Network Rail Peter Hendy, describes the Roman city as an “ideal location for a second city of government.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested in a letter last month that the House of Lords and Commons could move temporarily to York while the Palace of Westminster is restored.
He said the Government was “considering establishing a Government hub in York and it would therefore make sense to consider this as a potential location”.
And Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told The Yorkshire Post that all government departments were “thinking carefully” about how some of their jobs, including key decision-makers, can be moved out of the capital
The letter, published yesterday, said the 114-acre York Central development next to the city’s railway station was the “ideal available site” and was “ready to go”. It said: “It is currently largely in the ownership of Network Rail and Homes England, and is immediately adjacent to York Station, itself just 1hr 48 minutes from Kings Cross.
“It is one of the largest such sites in England and its strategic importance has been recognised with the award of Enterprise Zone status.”
It adds: “As well as the direct economic impact of any significant move of central government facilities, such a move would be transformational both economically and in terms of public perception.”
A move to York, the letter says, would have “overwhelming public support especially in York and the surrounding region, would play a major role in delivering the government’s national levellingup agenda, and would be a very significant economic boost for the North”.
Other signatories to the letter include, Dame Mary Archer, chair of the York Central Partnership, the vice-chancellors of York
Move would be a very significant economic boost for the North.
Part of a letter to the Government from leaders in York. and York St John universities and the chief executive of Fera Science Ltd, based at nearby Sand Hutton.
Speaking to last week, Mr Jenrick said the Government was “very serious about moving Whitehall jobs out of London and into the regions”.
He said: “Too many jobs are based in central London but that’s not just about jobs, important though, that is, it’s also about a mindset.
“And we want to ensure that decisions are being made by people who understand the lived experience of all parts of the country including the North of England.
“And so each government department is thinking carefully about how they can plan for the years ahead and move some of their jobs, including key decision-makers, out of the capital and into parts of the country like Yorkshire.
“And I know that the Chancellor [Rishi Sunak] as a Yorkshire MP is very keen that this agenda moves forward quickly and the Treasury is part of that.”
But Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said last month that moving MPs to York while the Palace of Westminster is refurbished is “great PR” but unlikely to work, with Manchester a better alternative. He said York’s relatively poor transport links to other parts of the North were a problem.