Reverse north decline
Author: Adam MarshallDate: 28/08/2008
Publication: Local Government Chronicle
The answer to ‘Should the government allow places to decline?' in LGC's Viewpoints column (21 August) was a clear no - a snapshot of the furore generated by Policy Exchange's new Cities Unlimited report.
We agree. Now is not the time to write off the cities and towns of the North, or to use policy to enable large-scale migration to the Greater South East.
But the basis of the Policy Exchange report - overlooked by most of the media - is correct. Economic history and geography do matter to the performance of places like Liverpool and Sunderland, and no regional policy (Conservative or Labour) has come close to bridging the economic divide between North and South. National and local politicians need to acknowledge that the North is unlikely to converge with the South - and that we need a more realistic approach to regional economic development.
We should start by prioritising resources on delivering absolute growth in the North. To date, investment has been spread far too thinly. In future, economic development and transport funding should be focused on Leeds and Manchester. Strengthening the North's biggest economies could help generate opportunities for nearby Barnsley and Burnley - giving a range of Northern towns the chance to develop new economic roles.
Greater local control over resources is also needed. The authors of the Policy Exchange report are right to say that city leaders need more financial and political power - and the ability to take risks in the interests of economic growth. So let's empower Northern cities - and keep them open for business.
Adam Marshall
Head of Policy
Centre for Cities
A version of this letter first appeared in Local Government Chronicle
