Estou eu, Tony Wilson - Sr. Manchester, pessoas de festas de 24 horas e tudo isso - Steve Roberts, de Granada, Ruth Turner, que trabalha para Tony Blair, Frank McKenna, que não precisa de introdução e mais um casal, todos em um bar em Manchester. Parece o começo de uma piada de mau gosto, que em alguns aspectos, provavelmente é. Somos o que é conhecido como o grupo necessário e estamos tentando convencer o governo trabalhista a devolver o poder para o noroeste. Para toda a conversa do partido em querer decisões feitas mais próximas às pessoas, elas não estão entusiasmadas. Com Jake Berry MP cumprindo esse papel, temos a sorte de ter alguém que seja excepcionalmente competente, mas também conhece o norte tão bem.
It’s the early 2000s and we’re meeting, as we have been doing for several months, to discuss our campaign for regional government. We’re what’s known as the Necessary Group and we’re attempting to persuade the Labour Government to devolve power to the North West.
The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, is a big advocate, but winning over the PM, others in the Cabinet, and even some council leaders in the region, is proving difficult. For all the Party’s talk of wanting decisions made closer to the people, they’re not enthusiastic.
Eventually, a referendum is held in the North East, they reject devolution, and the whole idea dies a death.
It’s interesting then, that it’s a Conservative led Government who extended the city mayor model to increase devolution across England and has created a ministerial post responsible for the Northern Powerhouse. With Jake Berry MP fulfilling that role we’re lucky to have someone who is exceptionally competent, but also knows the north so well.
Added to this is the fact that he’s a big ally of Boris Johnson and has been for a long time. Como escrevi no meu último blog Downtown, Johnson será nosso próximo primeiro -ministro e não é coincidência que ele recentemente anunciou um forte apoio à devolução e à potência do norte. Norte. É muito simplista dizer que há uma divisão do norte do sul, principalmente porque há bolsões de pobreza dentro e ao redor de Londres e há bolsões de prosperidade dentro e ao redor do norte e ao redor do norte. Também deve ajudar a criar trabalhos de qualidade nas regiões, construir casas de qualidade e fornecer um sistema de transporte decente que sirva comunidades além da rodovia M25. E eu acho que Wilson o teria recebido de qualquer partido político que o entregue. Downtown in Business
Berry’s influence combined with Johnson being the first Prime Minister in a generation to have been a council leader, as Mayor of London, means that we are on the verge of seeing more development and decisions made up north.
As a Lancastrian who spends time between home in Rochdale and my flat in London, I regularly see the economic and social imbalance which has such an adverse impact on our society. It’s far too simplistic to say there’s a north south divide, not least because there are pockets of poverty in and around London and there are pockets of prosperity in and around the north.
But there is no doubt that transport, skills and housing are major issues which require regional solutions.
Of course, we should celebrate the UK having such a great international city as London, there are few comparable anywhere in the world, but we must also help create quality jobs in the regions, build quality homes and provide a decent transport system that serves communities beyond the M25 motorway.
I think, with a change in Prime Minister, and with Berry in a position of influence, we could just be about to see a further re-balancing of our economy. And I reckon Wilson would have welcomed it from whichever political party delivered it.
Simon Danczuk is a former Member of Parliament and now works in business support.