Northern Powerhouse success depends on rewrite of Treasury ‘green book’ rules – The Yorkshire Post says

That they care so much about the North, and the scale of the opportunities that exist here, offers some hope that this region has a generation of leaders committed to bringing about longlasting economic and social change.

And they will be listening carefully to the words of both Boris Johnson and Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, when there’s a suspicion – illustrated by the decision not to back a transformative new rail link to Doncaster Sheffield Airport – that momentum in the Northern Powerhouse has stalled.

Both need to demonstrate that this is not the case and, furthermore, that the Treasury, under the leadership of Rishi Sunak, will still rewrite the ‘green book’ spending rules on infrastructure investment which have so disadvantaged the North for decades.

Delays to the Budget and wider spending review are not grounds for delay; Covid-19 makes this long-promised change even more urgent if more funds are to be invested in those areas that have been such a heavy price for the lockdown.

And one final point needs to be made. This region wants the Government to succeed with its Northern Powerhouse and levelling up agendas. But it is wary of broken promises – trust remains very fragile – and criticism should be accepted in the constructive spirit intended. After all, a more dynamic north of England can only benefit Great Britain plc.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson

Editor