Why the North so mistrusts Boris Johnson – The Yorkshire Post says

THE LONDON Government is largely to blame for its now fractious relations with certain areas of the North over Covid-19.
By YP Comment
Published 17th Oct 2020, 05:53 BST
This was Boris Johnson addressing last year's Convention of the North shortly after he became Prime Minister.This was Boris Johnson addressing last year's Convention of the North shortly after he became Prime Minister.
This was Boris Johnson addressing last year's Convention of the North shortly after he became Prime Minister.

Its disrespect for metro mayors and local leaders, choosing instead to brief others about its intentions, has fuelled this mistrust. Dialogue – and policy-making – works both ways and, as is so often the case, what suits London and the South East best of all is invariably incompatible with the rest of the UK.

And the regrettable stand-offs over Covid restrictions – and which do need a swift resolution to minmise the risk to public health – are also a legacy of the London Government’s failure to match its rhetoric with sufficient action over the Northern Powerhouse and ‘levelling up’ policy agendas.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Quick to embrace the agenda-setting (and award-winning) Power Up The North campaign galvanised by The Yorkshire Post and more than 40 newspapers in June 2019, Boris Johnson promised at last year’s Convention of the North to launch a new organisation “to make sure our great Northern Powerhouse is firing on all its cylinders”. We’re still waiting.

Boris Johnson with (left) Jake Berry, the then Northern Powerhouse Minister, at last year's Convention of the North.Boris Johnson with (left) Jake Berry, the then Northern Powerhouse Minister, at last year's Convention of the North.
Boris Johnson with (left) Jake Berry, the then Northern Powerhouse Minister, at last year's Convention of the North.

Instead he’s demoted the status Northern Powerhouse Minister and now Jake Berry, the previous postholder, has felt motivated to set up a lobby group of MPs to press the Government to honour its commitments.

And with the likes of Justine Greening, a former Education Secretary, saying there needs to be “a comprehensive, cross-departmental plan” – and sooner rather than later – because there’s such little time to waste due to the Covid recession, the PM is advised to act at next week’s Great Northern Conference before Whitehall’s relations with this great region become even more strained.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

Justine Greening, a former Education Secretary, has reiterated her call for “a comprehensive, cross-departmental plan" to advance the levelling up agenda which has become even more important in the wake of the Covid recession.Justine Greening, a former Education Secretary, has reiterated her call for “a comprehensive, cross-departmental plan" to advance the levelling up agenda which has become even more important in the wake of the Covid recession.
Justine Greening, a former Education Secretary, has reiterated her call for “a comprehensive, cross-departmental plan" to advance the levelling up agenda which has become even more important in the wake of the Covid recession.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you

James Mitchinson

Related topics:GovernmentBoris JohnsonYorkshire PostLondonCovid-19

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.