MP in warning on spending to reduce regional inequality
THE LEVELLING Up White Paper has to be a “down payment” on the Government’s commitment, rather than the “final payment”, according to the head of an influential group of northern MPs.
Chair of the Northern Research Group Jake Berry has said he is “never completely satisfied” with the money that has been allocated to level up, and announcements need to be the “start of the Government’s commitment” to reducing regional inequality.
Meanwhile, amid reports that a new northern ministerial position could be created, Mr Berry told The Yorkshire Post it would be a “huge privilege” to serve in such a role, and the answer would be “yes, yes, yes” should the Prime Minister come knocking.
Asked whether he thought enough money had been put aside to achieve levelling up goals, Mr Berry said: “I’m never completely satisfied.
“But I do take the point that it is the right thing to do to allocate money for levelling up at the Budget.
“And then through the White
Paper set out how we intend to spend it.
“If levelling up is going to succeed this has to be the start of the Government’s commitment.
“So through successive Budgets between now and 2030, northern colleagues representing
This is a down payment on levelling up and not the final payment. Jake Berry, Chair of the Northern Research Group of MPs.
Yorkshire and other areas of the country will be demanding that this sort of level of spend is maintained.
“This is a down payment on levelling up and not the final payment.”
Ahead of the report’s release, PoliticsHome reported that Secretary of State Michael Gove has vowed to look at the possibility of creating a new ministerial role for the North, following pressure from northern Conservatives.
Mr Berry served as the Northern Powerhouse Minister under Theresa May and Boris Johnson until February 2020, and said that closing the gap between the North and South is “all I care about in politics”.
Asked if he would be interested should a position open up, the MP for Rossendale and Darwen said: “I’ve always been really clear, there’s one thing I want to do in politics and that’s narrow the North South divide.
“So if the question is would I accept the job, the answer isn’t yes, it would be yes, yes, yes.
“I’ve not been asked to do it but it would be a huge privilege and it’s all I care about in politics.”