YP Letters: How the Northern Powerhouse became a dead parrot

There has been controversy over the decision to move a photographic collection from the National Media Museum to London.

ALBERT Einstein predicted 100 years ago the existence of gravitational waves that are finally been confirmed. What the great man didn’t foresee was that the G forces, especially when they crossed over Yorkshire and the North of England, carry everything in their inevitable path towards the metropolis – London.

Soon, for instance, a section of the Bradford Photographic Exhibition will be flying south. Will the museums at York be pillaged next? And so many of our educated high-fliers head to the capital to reap higher incomes and better prospects.

Tom Richmond, your impressive political columnist, cites a future aim of Boris Johnson in building two tunnels under London that would make the Humber Bridge investment look like the restoration of a Bridlington beach hut, and of course all subsidised by provincial taxpayers (The Yorkshire Post, February 13).

HS2, in spite of its good intentions, would also strengthen the gravitational forces targeted on the metropolis.

Unfortunately, in spite of the noble efforts of campaigns like The Yorkshire Post’s, the Northern Powerhouse is beginning to resemble the last rites of a dead parrot; its existence terminated by southern indifference.

Bernard Ingham, wisely, suggests that we must avoid establishing ourselves as professional whingers, but the analysis is clear: we do remain an afterthought in the minds of the influential centred in the South East except when the accusation of a lack of balance forces a strategy like the Northern Powerhouse to be conceived.

Is devolution an escape from the stranglehold that London exerts on the northern provinces?

It certainly raises some serious issues. The electorate are fearful of being controlled by superannuated, write-off, parochial politicians with their baggage of bureaucracy.

However, to be controlled by professional experts and businessmen, creates another unpopular quango that, like EU Commission, would be devoid of any democratic validity. And then there is the burning question of harmonising all the fiercely independent factions within our Broad Acres.

Innovative thought and strong leadership are in big demand, but I’m afraid remain in short supply in our attempt to combat the forces drawing things southwards.

It might meed a Napoleon with a brain of an Einstein to resolve the problem.