The UK’s vote to exit the European Union makes the case of the Northern Powerhouse project more compelling than ever.
That was the view of Martin Venning, director at UK Northern Powerhouse, organisers of the UK Northern Powerhouse Conference, which took place at Manchester Central earlier this year.
He said: “This morning’s result makes the case for the UK Northern Powerhouse more compelling.
“Our stakeholders will continue to contribute to the process of building a stronger, more productive and stable Northern economy.
“The challenges of growth post Brexit will require innovation and new forms of collaboration which can create new opportunities for all. We expect to play our part in shaping that agenda”.
Some shadow of doubt has been cast over the Northern Powerhouse plans following today’s dramatic referendum result.
Following David Cameron’s decision to resign as Prime Minister, many are predicting his closest ally George Osborne , the Chancellor and the man behind the Northern Powerhouse idea, will either follow suit or be pushed out.
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Ed Cox , director of Manchester think tank, IPPR North, said: “The people have spoken, but in the North they have shouted. The signs of malaise with the Westminster elite have been there for some time.
“Whatever you believe about the Northern Powerhouse, few can deny that our trading relationships with our (soon to be former) EU partners matter much more to northern businesses than they do to the City of London.
“We need to define the kind of economy we want to become. Our obsession with the big cities and aggregate growth must take a new turn and wake up to the cries of those on the margins who are busy manufacturing the goods we will now struggle harder to sell overseas.
“Calls for an East-West Freight Supercorridor linking Atlantic shipping to Liverpool with the European continent via Hull, and broader investment in international connectivity, should grow louder. We need a Global North now like never before.”
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Mr Cox said focus should now be on devolution with both political parties reinventing themselves from the bottom up with more ‘plural local political systems that bring people closer to power.’
He continues: “It is socially where the greatest challenge lies in the weeks ahead. Regions, cities and communities stand more divided than ever in living memory and the consequences will reverberate down every street as the threat of recession looms. It is at the neighbourhood level that we will need to rediscover our true North.”
FSB regional chair for Manchester & North Cheshire, Simon Edmondson, added: “Businesses in Greater Manchester and beyond those borders will be also be wondering how this decision to leave the EU will affect the Northern Powerhouse project? Is this now at risk, on hold, or is it a case of carry on regardless?
“Small businesses will understandably have a lot of questions following this decision and these need to be answered swiftly – especially here in the North West.
“We are urging politicians to work together to ensure political and economic stability is at the heart of their decision making – both locally and nationally. However this plays out, FSB will continue to be a constructive partner in any upcoming negotiations, ensuring the voice of smaller firms is heard loud and clear.”
