Boost the north of England and the rest of the UK will benefit too | Richard Leese
There is huge economic potential going untapped. Investment in the north will create jobs and wealth far beyond the region itself
When incoming prime minister Theresa May spoke outside 10 Downing Street of the need to make the economy work for everyone, it was a welcome declaration but one wrongly identified as an attack on the northern powerhouse – a strategy aimed at improving the economy of every part of the north of England, not just one or two cities.
This starts with a recognition that the north of England is underperforming, but that with the right support and investment in its distinctive strengths, it could make a much greater contribution to its own and to the UK’s economy. This thinking originated in work initiated by the northern cities to develop a pan-regional transport strategy, published as One North and endorsed by every local authority across the area. At the core of this is an understanding that although the northern city regions are in global terms at best medium-sized, they are remarkably close together and, with vastly improved transport links, would make a virtual super city, big enough to benefit from agglomeration and specialisation and to balance, not compete with, London and the south-east.
Related: Why the ‘One North’ transport proposals make my heart sink | Ally Fogg
Related: In Brexit Britain, the northern powerhouse is more important than ever | Andy Burnham
Source: Guardian Transport
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