How not to Power Up The North – The Yorkshire Post says
The first warning sign came in February when the Cabinet status of the Northern Powerhouse Minister was downgraded – despite Boris Johnson having accepted the compelling case, made by the Power Up The North campaign, for this region to be represented at the Government’s top table.
Next came the outbreak of Covid-19 and the realisation that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps could not devote sufficient time to his dual role as Northern Powerhouse Minister. This is not a reflection on him, more the workings of the Government and its over-reliance on the more competent communicators like Mr Shapps.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAnd then the marginalisation of the North at the Cobra emergency meetings formulating the country’s response to Covid-19 – it beggars belief that the region at the centre of the second wave of cases is still not represented and this oversight reflects poorly on Boris Johnson.
These developments, coupled with the Department for Education’s indifference over ‘levelling up’ and the creation of more Opportunity Areas to raise school standards, vindicates the critical assessment of the Centre for Cities think-tank. The Budget and Spending Review was the best chance to put the ‘levelling up’ agenda at the heart of the Government’s mission and to overhaul the Treasury’s so-called ‘Green Book’ on spending which has been so detrimental to the North. It is vital that this opportunity is not lost. Over to you, Chancellor.
Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.
Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.
So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.
Thank you
James Mitchinson
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.