Gordon Brown praises region but gives no cash pledge

Jul 3 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

GORDON Brown has praised the North East as the potential home for tomorrow’s energy sources, but crucially failed to promise extra funds to help pave the way.

During a visit to Newcastle, the prime minister last night held an audience with families, business leaders and key decision makers from across the region.

And he explained why he thought the region “was showing the world” the way forward on renewable energy.

Mr Brown was keen to stress he believed the North East stood a good chance to secure Government backing to trial a so-called clean coal power station. He also pointed to wind energy in Blyth and Tyneside as examples of the region’s world-beating status.

Yet despite praising efforts to introduce electric cars to the region or transform medical sciences, he repeatedly refused to signal new funding resources. Neither was he prepared to even indicate a will to safeguard current budgets.

Asked about the Great North Revolution, in which business leaders are debating the steps needed to change the economy of the region, Mr Brown said he was “determined to do everything possible to ensure this low carbon revolution benefits this region”. He added: “You have made huge numbers of strides into this and the interest and enthusiasm here is incredible, and obviously the Government will do what it can. So whether it is off-shore wind, where the region has a lead, or the electric car, the region will do what it can to help.”

But the prime minister knows his visit will have to produce more than just warm endorsements.

Last month, The Journal revealed the region’s development agency, responsible for creating hundreds of green-energy jobs, had been forced to cut by 30% funding for essential capital projects.

Those multi-million pound reductions will come into force 2011, just as the more prosperous South is picking itself up from the worst of the recession.