Boris Johnson’s Northern Powerhouse growth body pledge welcomed in Cumbria

Addressing business leaders, MPs, mayors and councillors at the Convention of the North and NP 11 event in Rotherham on Friday, Mr Johnson also reaffirmed his commitment to the region by handing down more decision-making and investment powers to devolved areas, which at present does not include Cumbria.

He also pledged to devolve powers over transport, which a particular emphasis on the railways, which he described as “patchy” in the North.

“What is needed most of all is local leadership, trusting people to take back control and lead as they want to,” said Mr Johnson.

“This is not about central government abdicating responsibility, but local leaders have a real power to change local issues.”

Delegates at the joint event staged by the Convention of the North and the NP11 – which brings together the North’s 11 Local Enterprise Partnerships, including Cumbria – were told that a seismic shift in funding and powers was needed to close the North-South economic divide.

Issues including skills and education, housing, transport, innovation, trade and investment, and clean growth were all high on the agenda, with calls for bold and radical ideas, and for words to be turned into action.

Jo Lappin, chief executive of Cumbria LEP – who attended the event – said: “Clearly anything that allows the North to work together collaboratively to deliver economic growth and prosperity and level up with the south must be welcomed. 

“The details of the new body are still to emerge and the NP11 LEPs will be working together to actively shape this role. 

“Further devolution is to be welcomed particularly the commitment to explore transport devolution with all areas including those outside of the City Regions. The commitment to further investment in education was very much to be welcomed particularly the statement about ‘our brilliant Further Education’.

“The commitment to accelerate digital enablement is really important for Cumbria.”

The Prime Minister’s speech was also welcomed by Barry Leahey MBE, chair of the Cumbria branch of the Institute of Directors and managing director of playground manufacturer Playdale Playgrounds.

“We all must welcome the news that the PM has reconfirmed his pledges for the North,” he said.

“A Northern Powerhouse growth body has to be a strategic alliance to drive our region forward and unlock the potential we have here. Skills and infrastructure have to be key and collaboration will be the vehicle to deliver this.  

“There is talk of a leader to orchestrate this and if is the right appointment our corner of the UK will be able to take on the world”

Further details are yet to emerge of the role and remit of the Northern Powerhouse growth body, although Number 10 has said the search is on to find someone to chair it.

NP11’s chair Roger Marsh OBE, said its first task must be to create and deliver a jointly agreed Northern Powerhouse Strategy, “a Manifesto for the North which will set out clearly what the North is asking of its own people, as well as from Government to unlock its extraordinary potential.”

And it still remains unclear how the body would interact with the existing Northern Powerhouse Partnership, established five years ago by the then chancellor George Osborne, who remains its chairman.

The Partnership’s director, Henri Murison, welcomed the move.

“The new body to drive economic growth will put us on the world stage and should be the one to drive and deliver the Northern Powerhouse Industrial Strategy and must be driven by leaders in the North. 

“We look forward to working with the Prime Minister with northern business leaders to ensure it plays a constructive role in the work of taking powers and resources out of their control by Whitehall.”

On devolution – which is yet to take place in Cumbria – he added: “We still have half the North waiting for an elected Mayor, with devolution one of the key original ingredients of securing economic rebalancing. 

“The litmus test on devolution is getting more deals negotiated and existing ones extended, and the Treasury needs to give its full support to the process as it did five years ago.”

The conference – which was hosted by broadcaster Steph McGovern – also heard how the region should build on the success of the Power Up the North collaboration.

It brings together media organisations Newsquest – publishers of in-Cumbria – JPI Media and Reach to call for more investment, power and autonomy for the North and has received backing from scores of high-profile business leaders and politicians across the political spectrum.

Power Up The North has demanded detailed plans from all major parties on everything from a bespoke Industrial Strategy for the North – including a new plan for the Moorside nuclear site in West Cumbria – and making Northern Powerhouse Rail a national priority, to extra investment in the region’s colleges and universities to boost skills along with more devolved powers for Cumbria.