A government minister has refuted claims by dozens of Tory MPs that Northern constituencies will be ‘left behind’ as the country pays for the cost of the Covid-19 pandemic.
More than 50 Tory backbench MPs have written to the Prime Minister calling for a “clear road map” out of lockdown restrictions in northern England.
The newly formed Northern Research Group - led by former northern powerhouse minister Jake Berry - warned the pandemic is threatening Boris Johnson’s election pledge to “level-up” the country.
The North-South divide in the tier system has sparked concern among Tory MPs, some of whom believe the newly won ‘Red Wall’ seats could be returned to Labour at the next election if the Government fails to deliver on its promise to boost the prospects of Northern towns.
In the letter, Mr Berry said the MPs have concerns the cost of the pandemic will be paid for by the “downgrading of the levelling-up agenda, and northern constituencies like ours will be left behind”.
In response, Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi told BBC Breakfast this morning that he is concerned about the claims.
He highlighted areas across the North and Midlands which will benefit from a £180 million share of the £3.6 billion towns fund as evidence of the Government’s commitment.
“Of course I'm concerned, as we all should be,” he said.
“People like Jake Berry and Simon Clarke are champions for their constituencies and the North.
“But if you look at the announcement we’re making today - I’m the Local Growth Minister as well as the Business and Industry Minister - on seven towns getting £180m as part of the £3.6bn Towns Fund.
“Blackpool is getting £39m, Warrington is getting £21m. 45 towns out of the 101 towns that will share that £3.6bn are in the Northern Powerhouse.”
More than eight million people in England - predominantly in the North - will be under the most stringent Covid-19 restrictions by the end of the week, with Warrington the latest area to be placed in Tier 3.
Mr Berry is now calling for a “clear road map down the tiering system and out of lockdown”, prioritising the acceleration of “key road, rail and social infrastructure” projects, and developing an economic recovery plan for the North.
The Trans-Pennine HS2 Northern Powerhouse Rail project, strategic development corridors and ultrafast broadband are some of the areas highlighted in the letter as infrastructure projects that could be prioritised.
Asked if he and other northern MPs are staging a “revolt”, the MP for Rossendale and Darwen told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “No it’s not a revolt.
“I don’t know how it can be a revolt for northern MPs to write to the Prime Minister to ask to work with him on delivering his exciting manifesto that he has a mandate for from December 2019.”
