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Member of Parliament for Bradford East@DavidWardMP on Twitter and Facebook |
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David Ward MP <>
David calls for a growth strategy for northern cities
July 4, 2011 10:30 AM
Bradford East MP, David Ward, has written to the Business Secretary, Vince Cable, calling on the Government to publish a growth strategy for northern industrial cities.
Commenting, David Ward said:
"The Government are talking the talk on regional rebalancing, but current policy does not go far enough to address the huge inequalities that already exist. Northern cities like Bradford were hit particularly hard by the recession and history shows that the gap only gets wider as the economy recovers.
"The problems we face here are complex, and if we are going to see genuine rebalancing then there has to be a joined up strategy across all areas of Government. This has to include supporting new housing, tackling low education attainment, and providing the right support for new businesses to start up here. It also means giving cities the power to shape their own future whether that be by setting up an enterprise zone or being allowed to reinvest their business rates doing what works best for them.
"I am calling on the Government to publish a strategy to tackle the problems which have long held back northern industrial cities from catching up with their neighbours in the south. We also need a minister who is specifically responsible for this area, to drive the rebalancing agenda forward in Government, and to make sure that different departments are working together to achieve this aim."