'The NRG is nothing like the ERG' - Yorkshire Tories optimistic after meeting with PM as 'exuberance of the new year' returns

Boris Johnson held a virtual meeting with the 60-strong Northern Research Group (NRG) - led by former Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry - this evening (Monday), where he thanked them for the support they were giving their communities and promised the “biggest infrastructure spend for a generation”

Mr Berry said the meeting was constructive, while Yorkshire MPs said Mr Johnson was “on good form”.

And on the collegiate nature of the approach, Scarborough and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill said: “The NRG is nothing like the ERG.”

Mr Johnson is understood to have told the group on an hour-long call: “I want to thank all members of the Northern Research Group, a group that will be central to what we want to achieve and to our agenda to unite and level up the whole country.

“We’re already undertaking a fantastic infrastructure revolution, including the A66, Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 to say nothing of the £3 billion we’re spending on buses.

“Local leadership can make a huge difference to the look and feel of town centres, and if you change the quality of life in a town, you will get people who stay to live there rather than getting on the train to big cities, and you will create more opportunities for investment in our towns.

“Remember that we are the party of aspiration and opportunity, and we must continue with our strong belief in our country, its institutions and its history, and the opportunities for our future post-Brexit.”

Mr Johnson spoke to the NRG from his Downing Street isolation after he came into contact with another MP who had tested positive for coronavirus.

But Don Valley MP Nick Fletcher said the call was “all very positive” and added: “He seemed in good spirits too.”

Mr Goodwill added: “Boris understands he needs to hold on to all of these seats the get reelected, and we’ve got our eyes on other seats too.

“None of us think that last December will be the high water mark for the Conservatives in the North of England.”

Mr Goodwill said he had been particularly impressed that Mr Johnson had been aware of many smaller infrastructure projects that MPs had been pushing for him to progress in the North, as well as a drive to distribute £3bn which has been promised to produce zero-emission buses.

Wakefield MP Imran Ahmad Khan said the PM “doubled down on his commitment to the North” and he said: “The mood of the parliamentary party is returning to the exuberance of the new year as we see light at the end of the Covid tunnel and commit to rebuilding the North and the entire United Kingdom.”

While Rother Valley's Alexander Stafford said the meeting was "refreshing". He said: "A focus on the North remains at the heart of [the Prime Minister's] mission, and shows that he is passionate about ensuring we are not left behind. He recommitted to levelling up the North and Rother Valley."

A statement from the group said: “The Prime Minister’s enthusiasm to meet with the NRG, despite being in self-isolation, demonstrates his determination to ensure the North is at the heart of this Government’s agenda and his ambition to ‘level up’ our communities remains a priority.

“We welcome his support for a northern economic recovery plan to ‘help the North deliver long-term economic change and growth’.

“We also welcome his renewed commitment that the promises made to our constituents in the 2019 general election will be delivered.

“The NRG is committed to working constructively with the Prime Minister to level up our communities and to build back better out of this Covid crisis.”