Two thirds of the North unaware of Northern Powerhouse plans

According to a BBC-commissioned survey, two-thirds of people in the North of England have either never heard of or know nothing about the Northern Powerhouse.

The survey found 44% of people had never heard of the policy and 20% had heard of it but knew nothing about it.

The plan is part of Chancellor George Osborne’s aim to attract investment and improve transport links between its towns and cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Hull in order to bridge the economic gap between the north and south. It promotes growth in towns and cities, diverting money and power.

The ComRes BBC-commissioned survey found 82% of respondents agree local politicians should have control over services like transport and health – rather than MPs in London.

The key findings from the Northern Powerhouse so far are that 50% of people are confident that it will boost the North’s economy, whilst 40% disagree.

Government minister Greg Clark said: “”We now need to work together to show what a difference having decisions made locally can make.

“I was struck by the survey where it said 82% of people in the North think decisions should be made by people in the North rather than in London and Westminster. That’s exactly what I think and that’s what this project is all about.”

Greater Manchester will be run by an elected mayor from 2017. The city was also given power over its health budget in February. There is rivalry between Manchester and Liverpool, with smaller Yorkshire cities claiming they have been overlooked.

The success of the Northern Powerhouse is within the electrification of the railways, although there have been delays to the electrification of the line between Manchester and Leeds.

 

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