South West needs more than warm words from PM Johnson

LET’S be honest, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has got a fair bit on his plate. He will have spent his weekend wrestling with how and when to make the call around further lockdown restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus. He must balance controlling the virus, and overwhelming the NHS, with the sure knowledge that the country cannot afford a second national lockdown. Apparently he is likely to address the nation this week, possibly as early as tomorrow.

There is Brexit to sort out, as well as running the country, delivering a radical shake up of local government, and significant pledges on ‘levelling up’ to deliver on. You’d think that with all of this going on, not to mention some serious questions around his leadership that are being asked both in the Conservative Party and in the Tory shires, he would take advantage of an open goal when presented with one. Here in the South West, the Government has a region ready to deliver on a ‘build back better’ agenda. He recognised this himself when he met with a delegation led by this newspaper at Number 10 Downing Street before Christmas. The support he gave then was warmly welcomed by a region that has rallied behind the Western Morning News’s Back The Great South West campaign. The campaign, launched in partnership with co-founders Pennon, has seen a unique spirit of co-operation and collaboration develop in the region, and a clear ask for the investment and recognition it deserves. Unfortunately, the region is still waiting for more than warm words. Last week, when asked by Totnes MP Antony Mangnall if he would meet with a delegation in the South West to discuss turbo-charging its economy, said he would ‘consult his diary’. Let us hope the meeting happens, and that the results are more than just hot air. The Great South West has been asking for a £2million push to set up the Great South West partnership – a region-wide organisation to rival the Midlands Engine and Northern Powerhouse. It predicts that the funding could drive a £45billion uplift to the economy with green energy at its heart. Earlier this year, just before lockdown hit, Heart of the South West and LEPs in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and Dorset published its Great South West prospectus, “Securing our Future”. The Heart of the South West is soon to publish its Building Back Better plan – setting out opportunities to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

In short, the region is ready to start delivering. What it requires is support. Susan Davy, Chief Executive of Pennon Group, sums up the thoughts of the region: “This latest recognition of the Great South West by the Prime Minister is welcome but we need firm Government commitments. In line with the ‘build back better’ agenda there is a clear opportunity for the South West to become a leader in clean, environmentally sustainable growth. Businesses in the region – ourselves included – will continue to help drive this forward but better digital and transport connectivity is badly needed. We heard similar positive words from Mr Johnson at 10 Downing Street back in November and, while we welcome further dialogue on the issue, it is time the region was given the support it deserves.”