The Great North urges chancellor to back investment and devolution in Budget
Mayors and local leaders from across the North of England have penned an open letter to chancellor Rachel Reeves outlining their three key priorities for government action: full delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail, a new devolved funding settlement to support business growth, and measures to tackle child poverty.
The leaders urged the Treasury to commit to the complete NPR network, describing it as ‘a spine that connects the whole North.’
Their proposal includes a new high-speed line linking Liverpool and Manchester via Warrington and Manchester Airport, with an underground through-station at Manchester Piccadilly.
The line would continue to Huddersfield and Leeds via a new station in central Bradford, alongside electrification of the Leeds–Sheffield route.
The letter also calls for significant upgrades to the Hope Valley line, the reopening of the Leamside Line north of Northallerton to improve capacity on the East Coast Main Line, and completion of previously promised improvements north of York and electrification of the Midland Main Line to Sheffield.
According to the leaders, a fully upgraded NPR network would enhance connectivity for Chester, Crewe, Lancashire, Cumbria, and the Tees Valley, while creating additional capacity for freight and local passenger services.
An announcement on funding for NPR had been expected on multiple occasions in recent months, but has been repeatedly delayed – leading to fears over the government’s commitment to the project.
Alongside transport, the Mayors and leaders are seeking a new funding model to strengthen business growth and innovation across the North.
Their proposal includes devolving the successor to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, introducing a replacement for the Rural England Prosperity Fund, and rolling out a new Local Growth Fund.
They also call for simplified, devolved business support structures that harness private sector innovation and improve access through a single regional front door.
The third priority set out by The Great North focuses on tackling child poverty, with the group urging the government to remove the two-child benefit cap, a move they say could lift 100,000 children in the North out of poverty and give young people across the region ‘a fair shot at a brighter future.’
Chair of The Great North, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, said: “The North of England has to be at the vanguard of the government’s mission to unlock the growth the country and communities badly need.
“That’s why we’re calling on the Government to make game-changing investment in our infrastructure and wholesale reform of business support so we can unleash the potential of people and businesses.
“We stand ready to deliver for UK PLC, and there is no time to waste – so we can create jobs and opportunity for people we represent.”
The letter was signed by The Great North chair and Mayor of the North East, Kim McGuinness; York & North Yorkshire Mayor, David Skaith; West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin; Hull & East Yorkshire Mayor, Luke Campbell; South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard; Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham; Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotherham; Lancashire Combined Authority leader, Steven Atkinson; Cheshire West and Chester Council leader, Louise Gittens; West Morland & Furness Council leader, Jonathan Brook; and leader of Cumberland Council, Mark Fryer.
