Policies Yorkshire needs to be powerhouse for Britain

With fragile signs of a recovery, the General Election – the first for

18 years where the outcome is genuinely up in the air – takes place at a time when there is so much at stake.

We are not asking for special treatment at the expense of others, just a fair deal for this region and a sensible policy approach which will allow Yorkshire businesses and residents to prosper for the benefit of the whole country.

There is much we all love about Yorkshire, and in which we should quite rightly be proud.

It is the envy of others for its combination of breathtaking landscape and vibrant cities, its rich seem of history and abundance of modern culture, populated by people renowned for a warmth and character like no other.

But like the rest of the country, the region has been battered by the economic crisis of the past two years.

For some parts, such as Hull and parts of South Yorkshire, the tsunami struck as they were only slowly recovering from the hits of the 1980s and 1990s, with manufacturing jobs bearing the brunt of the downturn as consumer demand for goods has plummeted.

In West Yorkshire, the financial services industry helped turn Leeds and its surrounding area into an economic powerhouse during the boom years, only for the banking bubble to spectacularly burst costing thousands more jobs.

Unemployment has soared, businesses have gone bust or still struggle to get by and families have lost their homes.

Even before the crisis hit, farmers were battling to make ends meet, businesses and commuters were frustrated with transport gridlock and rural communities were struggling to cope with a chronic shortage of affordable homes and disappearing services which left them increasingly isolated.

The challenges are immense, but so are the opportunities. This manifesto is not intended to be a definitive agenda for government, but aims to tackle some of the most important issues for Yorkshire.

Making the wrong moves now could be damaging to the future of this region, but adopting the right policies can ensure a prosperous and exciting future lies ahead.

1. Small business

Small businesses can lead us out of the economic crisis, but they are being strangled by red tape. Unnecessary regulations should be lifted swiftly to ease the burden and allow them to create jobs and pull the region out of recession.

Firms will also be badly hit by next year's planned national insurance increase, on top of an already heavy tax regime. A fresh analysis of enterprise taxes should be carried out to encourage small business to prosper.

2. Manufacturing

Manufacturers need a sign that the next government is serious about rebalancing the economy away from financial services, either through sustainable tax breaks or, at the very least, certainty in the tax system.

Manufacturers also need to make sure their competitive advantage from the weak pound is not eroded by poor infrastructure. The next government must take a long-term view of spending cuts and not simply slash investment in the UK's roads, railways, airports and docks, which would result in the loss of more companies.

3. Regeneration

The squeeze on public spending must not be allowed to throw into jeopardy the strides that have been made breathing fresh life into our cities. Yorkshire Forward should be retained as a strong organisation focused on economic development, attracting investment, regeneration and closing down regional inequalities. While Leeds and Sheffield have been transformed in the past decade, other towns and cities must not be allowed to fall behind.

4. Transport

It is time to give this region a fair deal on transport funding to unclog the roads and ease overcrowding on the railways. It is wrong and unfair for the gap in transport spending between London and this region to have widened. The Government must recognise that while dealing with the public finances is essential, delaying or cancelling vital transport infrastructure is shortsighted. It is time to give the region a fair deal.

The next government must also begin building a high-speed rail network with a firm commitment of a direct link between Leeds, Sheffield and London. This region must not be left behind the North-West when lines are constructed.

5. Green energy

Yorkshire is at the forefront of testing carbon capture and storage technology – allowing us to continue using coal to generate power by capturing polluting CO2 emissions and storing them under the seabed.

The next government must ensure pilot schemes – including those at Hatfield, near Doncaster, and Ferrybridge, near Castleford – get started swiftly and ensure that if tests are successful it is ready to help industry roll out the technology rapidly, providing financial assistance where necessary.

This region's manufacturing skills can be adapted to build the next generation of nuclear power stations and turbines for offshore wind farms. The government must use its influence to champion the region and provide the necessary conditions to convince multi-national companies to move here.

6. Farming

Measures to stop the scandal of low-quality imported meat being passed off as British have been welcome, but this must be stopped once and for all – if necessary, through legislation.

We need a clear vision and package of support for struggling hill farmers, custodians of some of Yorkshire's most spectacular and valuable resources without whom one of the region's greatest assets may be lost.

7. Rural

An action plan for rural areas is needed to remove hurdles in the way of developing new, affordable housing, improve help for those searching for work and enhance public transport to stop young people deserting the countryside.

Government must be ready to think smartly and ensure rural areas are connected just as quickly to super-fast broadband as towns and cities so they are not left behind. The scrapping of tax breaks for holiday homes should be reversed to avoid a serious blow to the tourism industry.

8. Care for the elderly

The elderly must be allowed to live – and die – in dignity. A fair, and sustainable, system for funding old age care must be a priority which no longer requires people to sell their home to pay for their care but gives flexibility to the individual.

9. Education

The current funding system punishes schools in rural areas where the cost of delivering education is more expensive. The growing gap in funding between the best and worst funded authorities must be closed to give all children a good start in life.

10. Crime

Police forces should work together closely to crack major crimes and any cost reduction should not affect front-line services. Nevertheless every citizen has the right to expect to live in safety, courtesy of a local police presence.