Think tank calls for more investment in northern powerhouse

Analysis by the think tank claims that if the North could have the gap between its own economic output per person and the national level, then its economy could increase by 11.9 per cent, which amounts to approximately £34 billion.

Its report also claims that underperformance in the North is not inevitable, and that the rate of job creation in the North equalled the national average.

Ed Cox, Director of IPPR North, said: “The historical economic underperformance of the North of England is not natural, nor is it inevitable. We have seen past attempts at 'regional policy' fall by the wayside, but the Northern Powerhouse has momentum and has galvanised leaders in the North.

“Investment, leadership and urgency are the key ingredients for turning northern powerhouse rhetoric into national economic prosperity. The momentum is building, the benefits are great - the opportunity is there to be seized for Northern prosperity to create national prosperity.”

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