Analysts say Government must pick up the pace

Despite a string of positive announcements in the 12 months since the Fair Deal campaign was launched, experts believe there is much more that Ministers could be doing if they are serious about restoring growth to the economy.

Roger Marsh, a senior partner at accountancy firm PWC in Leeds, and the former head of strategic finance and operations at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall, said: “I think the direction of travel is literally in the right direction – my issue would be one of impatience.

“There are things to be positive and pleased about. But there are areas where the pace, compared with the size of the problem, is an issue. The question is – can we up the pace?”

Ed Cox, director of think-tank IPPR North, highlighted the recent devolution measures in this week’s City Deals as “a very positive thing” for Leeds and Sheffield’s city regions, but made clear they will not be sufficient to restore growth on their own.

“Unfortunately we still lack a clear economic strategy or growth strategy for England, and particularly the North of England, which is critical if we are going to find a relatively rapid path to recovery,” he said.

“The Government needs to look at putting in place some long-term changes to the way in which it develops economic policy if we are going to have a lasting and sustainable recovery, and if the North – and Yorkshire in particular – are really going to get a fair deal.”