Council backs Post’s fight for region

Every councillor on Sheffield Council, regardless of political persuasion, agreed the authority should support the Fair Deal campaign, despite disagreeing on several points of policy.

The Labour-run council announced last week that it would throw its weight behind the drive and leader Coun Julie Dore asked every member to follow her lead at a full council meeting yesterday.

Speaking in support of a motion which backed the campaign, Coun Dore said the economy was “one of, if not the most important issue” facing Sheffield and the region now and in the future.

She added: “We cannot have deficit reduction without investment, it will not work.

“If this Government is not willing to come up with a plan to revive our economy we are facing years and years of misery.

“Yorkshire has lost jobs faster than any region in the country. The cuts, combined with the VAT increase and the failure to sort out the financial institutions is hurting our small, medium and large businesses.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s speech, which he was making at the Conservative conference in Manchester as the meeting in Sheffield took place, Coun Dore said: “As I speak, I would like to think that David Cameron is announcing new policies to help tackle these problems.

“But all we have heard about so far is credit easing and a call for people to pay off their credit cards.

“That is why we support the Yorkshire Post’s Fair Deal for Yorkshire campaign. We want to stand up for Yorkshire and stand up for Sheffield.”

Seconding the motion, Coun Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, the council’s cabinet member for business, jobs and growth said while firms in the South-East were looking to hire staff, those in Yorkshire still expected to lay off employees.

She added: “The ill-thought out policies of this Government are based on a two-nation recovery, paving the way for the North-South divide to worsen.

“Figures from the University of Newcastle and Pricewaterhouse Coopers have provided further evidence that the North will suffer disproportionately.

“The Government’s plan for growth is not working, and that is why we are backing the Fair Deal for Yorkshire campaign.”

The campaign aims to increase the region’s chances of emerging strongly from the recession and has suggested a “bank of ideas “which would improve its position on funding, investment and opportunities

Coun Dore’s motion, which was carried by the Labour majority, also called for the backing of a five-point growth plan unveiled by the Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls.

While the council’s Lib Dem and Green groups refused to support that, they both signalled their support for the Fair Deal campaign, voting for that part of the motion only.

Yesterday, the leader of Wakefield Council, Peter Box, also announced he would give the campaign his support, while a similar motion is expected at Doncaster Council’s next meeting.

Coun Box said: “I am pleased to see the Yorkshire Post championing these issues and I am equally committed to our region get a fair deal.

“In Wakefield we are determined to build on the economic confidence already being shown with the opening of The Hepworth Wakefield, Trinity Walk and Merchant Gate.

“Few other places have had as much happening this year and this is a sound foundation on which to bring in jobs and investment.”

“But we need to get real commitment and support from the Government on key areas like transport and infrastructure.

“I hope that this campaign continues to gain support and influence and we can get on with delivering a more prosperous future for Wakefield and Yorkshire.”

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