Regional policy: Parties unite over development fears

MPs based around the Humber have warned councils against pitching the north and south banks against each other when development agency Yorkshire Forward is replaced.

By The Newsroom

Published 22nd Jul 2010, 00:57 BST

Updated 22nd Jul 2010, 00:57 BST

The politicians have called for a single Humber-wide Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to be set up when Yorkshire Forward is abolished.

The partnerships, led by councillors and business leaders, will get some of the agency's powers and Ministers have asked local authorities to submit plans for areas they should cover.

Councils in and around Leeds and Sheffield have agreed to establish LEPs, and amid fears authorities in the east of the region may consider forming separate organisations for the north and south banks five Labour MPs and two Tories have warned against it.

Labour's Alan Johnson, MP for Hull West & Hessle, said: "It would dilute our strengths such as ports and logistics, renewables and petro-chemicals."

Tory David Davis, MP for Haltemprice & Howden, said: "Splitting the area would only serve to weaken our competitive strength on the national stage at a time when we all need to be speaking as one voice for the region."