Northern Territories
Ashton
Northern Territories Jacob King
Greater Manchester is made up of 27 parliamentary constituences. It is traditionally an area of strength for the Labour party, who at this moment hold 22 of the 27 territories. The current conservative government, as part of their long-term economic vision, have announced the implementation of a ‘Northern Powerhouse’. The ‘Powerhouse’ is aiming to connect the northern cities through newly improved transport links, invest in science and industry, and devolve power and control to local authorities. If achieved the powerhouse may swing public opinion in these mostly Labour-backed seats. Chancellor George Osborne illustrated his vision for the North during a speech at Manchester’s museum of science and industry on 23rd June 2014. The start of this long-term project documents the Greater Manchester area.
Extracts from George Osborne’s speech at the Manchester museum of science and industry. 23rd June 2014. ‘I grew up with the cliche that if it wasn’t happening in London, it wasn’t happening at all... And my time in Parliament has been shaped by another cliche: that the dice are unfairly loaded against the north; that our capital city to the south has sucked economic life and talent away from here.’
Collyhurst
‘Our long-term economic plan is delivering a recovery everywhere.’
Ancoats
‘The cities of the north are individually strong, but collectively not strong enough. The whole is less than the sum of its parts.’
Ancoats
‘Not one city, but a collection of northern cities - sufficiently close to each other that combined they can take on the world.’ ‘together our northern cities can be more than the sum of their parts.’ Opposite; tower block in Ancoats, with Manchester and the Beetham tower in the background
‘How do we build the Northern Powerhouse? By joining our northern cities together - not physically, or into some artificial political construct - but by providing the modern transport connections they need; by backing their science and universities; by backing their creative clusters; and giving them the local power and control that a powerhouse economy needs.’
Day of Oldham west and Royton by-election
‘I’ve committed £600 million to the Northern Hub, which will cut journey times on trains between Manchester, Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield.’ ‘I’ve found resources to extend the Metrolink here. Like any global city, the commuter routes to the surrounding towns and villages are vital.’ ‘We are making it happen. The reality is that HS2 is a vital investment. It’s essential capacity and it will change the economic geography of the country. It will mean that London and Manchester are just an hour apart.’ ‘We need an ambitious plan to make the cities and towns here in this northern belt radically more connected from east to west.’
Ancoats
‘So today I am putting on the table and starting the conversation about serious devolution of powers and budgets for any city that wants to move to a new model of city government - and have an elected mayor. A Mayor for Greater Manchester. A Mayor for Leeds. With powers similar to the Mayor of London.’
Royton
‘What I’ve set out today is a vision of the Northern Powerhouse - not to rival the South, but to be its brother in arms as we fight for Britain’s share of the global economy. Lets bring our Northern cities together, so they’re bigger and better than anyone can be alone.’
UKIP volunteer, Royton
‘The Northern Powerhouse can’t be built over-night. It’s a long-term plan for a country serious about its long-term economic future.’
Collyhurst
‘this plan is bigger than any one of us- and it’s worth it for us all.’
Collyhurst
Lucy Powell, Labour’s general election co-ordinator and Manchester Central MP, said no-one would be fooled by the prime ministers “weasel words”, saying living standards had fallen across Manchester since 2010.
Peter Coates, Royton
In 2015, and just over a year after the Chancellor’s speech, researchers at the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute (SPERI) suggested George Osborne was ‘failing to deliver’ on Northern Powerhouse promises. They said London is set to receive more funding from the public purse than every other English region combined. Infrastructure investment in London, £45 billion- £5,305 per person in the capital, according to the institutes figures. These figures compare to £1,946 per head in the North West, £851 per head in Yorkshire and Humberside and £414 per head in the North East, the lowest of any English region. ‘The bias towards...investment in London suggests the government’s commitment to geographical rebalancing of the UK economy is highly questionable, and will continue to inhibit private sector growth in other regions.’ The institute’s report says.
Failsworth
‘These findings call into question the government’s commitment to economic rebalancing and to creating a Northern Powerhouse.’ Dr Craig Berry, co-author of the report and deputy director of SPERI. SEPRI’s report comes amid growing concern about the government’s announcement in June that the electrification of the Manchester to Leeds railway line - a key piece of the Northern Powerhouse jigsaw - had been “paused”.
Ancoats
‘For a number of years, various reports have shown the gaping chasm in spending on infrastructure between London, the south-east and the rest of the UK. ‘Our members demand greater investment and they see the Northern Powerhouse as a way to do this. Support is still strong from business, but patience could start to wear thin if there were to be any more delayed projects.’ Chris Fletcher, policy director at Greater Manchester chamber of commerce.
Central Retail Park, Manchester
‘The chancellor has talked a lot about the Northern Powerhouse and it is very concerning that the government has fallen at the first hurdle by pausing the electrification of the Trans-Pennine railway line.’ Steven Leigh, head of policy at the Mid-Yorkshire chamber of commerce.
Ashton Canal
ŠJacob King 2016. All Rights Reserved.