Pickles backs region’s attempts to gain more powers for growth

Speaking in the House of Commons at a launch event for the Yorkshire Post’s new quarterly magazine, Yorkshire Vision, Eric Pickles described the Leeds City Region proposal for a so-called City Deal with the Government – designed to deliver a raft of new powers to the authorities involved – as “very attractive”.

Mr Pickles, a former leader of Bradford Council, said he was impressed to see councils working together to win wider benefits for the region, telling the audience of politicians and business leaders that “Yorkshire is at its best when it’s working within itself – when it’s part of the solution rather than looking towards Westminster for help.”

Greater Manchester last week became the second urban centre in England to agree a City Deal with the Government, after the first package was signed off with Liverpool in February.

Manchester will receive a host of new powers as part of the package including greater control over skills and training and new ways to raise finance.

Mr Pickles made it clear he believes Leeds City Region is now not far behind after seeing a recent presentation from the bid team, warning only that certain “governance issues” need to be ironed out before the final agreement can be signed off.

“It was a very attractive presentation,” Mr Pickles said. “There was a clear sense as to the areas where they’re wanting to go.

“It moved beyond West Yorkshire, with York being involved, and I hope parts of North Yorkshire will be involved as well.

“We can’t confine ourselves with simply the old district boundaries – things that happen in Huddersfield have a knock-on effect beyond Bradford and Leeds.

“We need to be able to look at the economic challenges and be a little generous about where those developments take place.

“I’m rather hoping we might be able to make an announcement reasonably soon.”

Mr Pickles was one of nearly 50 MPs either from or representing the region who attended the Commons reception on Monday night to celebrate the launch of Yorkshire Vision. The Yorkshire Post’s new quarterly business publication aims to bang the drum for Yorkshire as the newspaper’s “Fair Deal” campaign continues to move forward.

Editor Peter Charlton warned that despite recent successes, such as the halving of Humber Bridge tolls and plans to electrify major rail lines across Yorkshire, “there is still so much more to do if our region is to recover from the disastrous economic crash”.

He said: “We are not asking for hand-outs, or preferential treatment. Ours is a constructive campaign involving self-help and speaking up for our region – and this marks a new phase of the campaign, with the publication of our exciting new quarterly, glossy magazine, Yorkshire Vision.

“Its mission is to complement and reinforce what the Yorkshire Post has a long and proud track record of doing – to champion our region.”

Highlighting figures which suggest the gap between North and South is widening, Mr Charlton went on: “The North-South divide must concern us all. If our country as a whole is to prosper, which we all want, the North must be given the means to forge ahead and close that divide.

“We need investment now to unlock our potential for growth. The message is a simple one; if the North does well, so will Britain.”

The campaign has received support from all sides of the House, and Labour veteran Barry Sheerman made clear that following his launch of an all-party Parliamentary group for Yorkshire last week, the opportunity is there for MPs from all parties to lobby together for the region.

“Behind the scenes, behind all the ritual, Yorkshire MPs do work well together,” he said.

Other speakers included Tony Reeves, chief executive of Bradford City Council, John Hooper of Yorkshire Bank, and Welcome to Yorkshire boss Gary Verity.

• Read Yorkshire Vision in full