Northern Powerhouse deserves better than this – Yorkshire Post Letters

FORMER Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry has introduced a new report “A Northern Big Bang” by calling for massive investment in the region’s economy (Tom Richmond, The Yorkshire Post, February 20).

The report recognises that a much greater proportion of investment needs to be directed towards the north of England. Its weakness is that it is so attached to the idea of deregulation to achieve that investment.

It describes plenty of tax breaks and financial incentives for corporate and foreign investors, but says little about how any profits made from projects will be kept in the region. How will it be ensured that those employed receive decent wages and working conditions? Where are the ideas to improve training and skills?

The suggestion that any major planning application which has not been determined within two months should be automatically consented is simply reckless. Local planning authorities are already overstretched and larger applications are always complex.

Developers would have little incentive to provide adequate information because any resultant delays would be regarded as the fault of the planning authority.

The system already lacks robustness. Recent weeks have seen plans granted for a coal mine in Cumbria and an expansion of capacity at Leeds Bradford Airport. If they go ahead, these schemes will make a mockery of our efforts to tackle climate change. The North deserves better ideas than these.

Rejoin the Single Market

From: Jas Olak, Vice Chair, Leeds for Europe, Leeds.

QUOTES attributed to CBI president Lord Bilimoria further underline Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal is not fit for purpose (The Yorkshire Post, February 23).

He wants countries such as India to continue investing in the UK and channel more of it to regions outside of the South of England. Lord Bilimoria adds: “Even though we have left the European Union, I believe Indian companies will still see the UK as a gateway to Europe.”

Lord Bilimoria is wrong, I believe. Indian companies will see problems British companies are facing – because of Brexit. And how some are relocating operations to mainland Europe – because of Brexit.

We need to rejoin the Single Market and Customs Union. It’s not full EU membership, but still an “oven-ready” solution to many of the problems British companies have faced in the first 50-or-so days of Brexit. It would make us more attractive to investors – from India and elsewhere – targeting Europe.

It’s probably too soon for the Tories to look at this. But not the Labour Party.

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