CAMPAIGNING to be Labour’s Greater Manchester mayoral candidate, Andy Burnham, the Shadow Home Secretary and MP for Leigh has unveiled his vision to businesses.
Addressing business leaders the Shadow Home Secretary renewed his commitment to delivering growth for the region with skills, housing and transport amongst his highest priorities.
At the briefing, organised by Quatro, Burnham promised to be a strong voice for Manchester and hoped to encourage greater collaboration across the north. He mooted the possibility of creating a ‘cabinet of the north’, formed of the new northern metropolitan mayors.
The MP for Leigh urged Government to remain committed to the idea of delivering a Northern Powerhouse and revealed he had already sent a letter to the Prime Minister, Theresa May, calling for her to reassure the region that it remains as important to the Government as it did under the former Chancellor, George Osborne.
He said that without a ‘bare minimum’ commitment to construct a high-speed East-West train link, the Northern Powerhouse rhetoric would fail to become a reality. He added that, like the ‘Big Society’, this was another grand Government concept that could simply disappear.
Burnham also called on the Prime Minister to ensure that she ‘makes good’ the losses felt by the region as a result of Brexit, estimated by the candidate to be up to £320m.
Andy Burnham said: “It was a pleasure to speak to so many business leaders about my vision for regeneration across Greater Manchester.
“It is essential that future opportunities, developments and prosperity are shared across all ten boroughs. But, to help deliver that prosperity we need to ensure that the Government keeps to its promise to deliver a Northern Powerhouse.
“The Government needs to put its money where its mouth is and provide the investment that we need.”
Simon Collingwood, Director for Quatro’s activities in the north of England, said: “Now more than ever in a post-Brexit climate, investment in Greater Manchester is key. A strong Manchester and a strong north of England is essential to rebalance the economy and we need business and bold policies to deliver this. The opportunities for growth across the region remain and it was good to hear Andy Burnham commit to driving forward the northern powerhouse agenda if he is successful in the race to be Mayor.
“Engaging with local business is essential and we are delighted to provide Andy with the platform to set out his vision for Greater Manchester.”
Andy Burnham is up against Interim Mayor Tony Lloyd and Bury MP Ivan Lewis for the position of Labour Candidate for Mayor.