YP Comment: Turning the tide
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, a former mayor of New York, and George Osborne make a strong case on the opposite page for the empowerment of city-regions '“ they believe local decision-making can counteract the forces of populism which are changing the dynamics of politics on both sides of the Atlantic.
Mr Osborne, the former chancellor, also deserves credit for setting up his Northern Powerhouse Partnership since leaving office abruptly last July. He did more than most to put the North back on the political map and he, for one, won’t stay silent for long if there’s any backtracking by his successors. Yet, while both men clearly favour the city-region leadership model, they should accept that this one-size-fits-all approach might not work in a region like Yorkshire. That said, their joint article is a very thoughtful contribution and this region’s leaders need to respond in kind if they truly want this great county to prosper, and maintain its global influence, in a changing world.