Prime Minister is '˜ too busy' to talk to North leaders on Brexit

COUNCIL leaders have reacted angrily after they were told Theresa May was too busy to meet them to discuss the impact of Brexit on the North.
Theresa MayTheresa May
Theresa May

The Government has rejected an invitation to the Prime MInister to meet the leaders of combined authorities so she can hear what the North needs from Britain’s Brexit deal.

The chairmen of five combined authorities - including those covering South and West Yorkshire - wrote to Mrs May last year over their concerns that the North of England would not have its voice heard.

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But Brexit Minister David James has told the group that “due to diary restraints” a meeting will not be possible with the Prime Minister.

Mr James said Northern Powerhouse Minister Andrew Percy, the Brigg and Goole MP, would represent the North of England in the Brexit process.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister and Brexit Secretary David Davis held the latest in a eries of meetings about Brexit with representatives of the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland administrations.

Coun Peter Box, chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “This response from Minister David Jones MP, received six months after we wrote to the Prime Minister inviting her to discuss the impact of Brexit on the North is hugely disappointing.

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“With the North of England contributing £350bn per year in GDP, a fifth of the UK economy, I would have expected the Minister to have shown a greater interest in meeting its regional leaders particularly in the light of the Government’s often-stated commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.

“This Government will not be able to make Brexit the success they claim it’s going to be by ignoring the North of England. It is simply not good enough or acceptable.”

The anger was shared by Sir Steve Houghton, chairman of of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, who also signed the original letter.

Sir Steve said: “On behalf of local leaders in Sheffield City Region, I urge the Prime Minister to reconsider her decision to turn down a meeting to discuss Brexit with leaders in the North of England.

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“The Sheffield City Region is working hard, alongside its partners across the North of England, to build a stronger and more resilient Northern economy.

The challenges and opportunities of Brexit are very high on our agenda.

“We simply want to ensure that, whatever kind of Brexit the Government negotiates, it is an exit which has given due respect and consideration to the interests of businesses and residents in Sheffield City Region and across the North of England.”

Greater Manchester mayor Tony Lloyd said: “The North has a population greater than London and almost three times that of Scotland. Our economy is significantly larger than Wales’ or Scotland’s. We cannot and will not be ignored.

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“I know that Leaders across the North are concerned that while an economically powerful London and an increasingly politically important Scotland are having their say, our voices are being drowned out.”

Mr Davis, the Haltemprice and Howden MP, recently announced he would hold a summit in York to hear views from the North on Brexit.

However, his invitation only appears to extend to those areas which will be elected regional mayors in May, which excludes Yorkshire.

The IPPR North thinktank has been among those calling for the North of England to have a stronger voice and has suggested the creation of a Northern Brexit Negotiating Committee.

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In the letter to northern leaders, Mr James promised the Government was “gathering the views and opinions from all over the UK and the voice of the North will be heard as we leave the EU”.

He said Mr Percy would “be acting on your behalf to make sure that the views of the North are well represented in our upcoming negotiations”.