North East investment and jobs depend on regional voice

Jan 27 2010 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

For more stories from the campaign, go to www.journallive.co.uk/caseforthenortheast

THE North East can point to thousands of jobs and millions of pounds worth of investment that are directly dependent on having a strong regional voice.

While critics have many concerns over accountability, few can question the record of real improvements as a result of having North East-wide institutions.

As the General Election approaches The Journal is setting out the case for preserving this voice amid fears a Government shake-up will see that power lost.

Success over the last decade has come by convincing Whitehall that the North East needs its own resources, and that intervention elsewhere in the North does not necessarily benefit this region. To combat years of deprivation the North East has had to come together and show that what benefits businesses in Teesside can have wider impacts for employees in Tyneside.

For example, by working together, 12 councils across the region are bidding for a £100m green energy fund from Europe. They face a battle against Treasury staff reluctant to allow the region to go it alone.

Those same authorities have also led a bid for high-speed rail as part of the Association of North East Councils’ efforts to secure vital transport links.

And leading employers have also welcomed the regional way of doing business.

Nissan bosses have publicly praised this approach. The car giant is used to going in to partnership with countries but the North East is the only region in the world that they have entered into a low carbon partnership with.