The Northern way

A chance to power up the region

THE BREADTH and expertise of speakers at the Great Northern Conference is evidence of the extent to which this region has galvanised itself to seek fairer funding and recognition from Londoncentric governments.

That they care so much about the North, and the scale of the opportunities that exist here, offers some hope that this region has a generation of leaders committed to bringing about long- lasting economic and social change.

And they will be listening carefully to the words of both Boris Johnson and Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, when there’s a suspicion – illustrated by the decision not to back a transformative new rail link to Doncaster Sheffield Airport – that momentum in the Northern Powerhouse has stalled.

Both need to demonstrate that this is not the case and, furthermore, that the Treasury, under the leadership of Rishi Sunak, will still rewrite the ‘ green book’ spending rules on infrastructure investment which have so disadvantaged the North for decades.

Delays to the Budget and wider spending review are not grounds for delay; Covid- 19 makes this longpromised change even more urgent if more funds are to be invested in those areas that have been such a heavy price for the lockdown.

And one final point needs to be made. This region wants the Government to succeed with its Northern Powerhouse and levelling up agendas. But it is wary of broken promises – trust remains very fragile – and criticism should be accepted in the constructive spirit intended. After all, a more dynamic north of England can only benefit Great Britain plc.