Metro mayors in the north of England such as Andy Burnham should be given the power to take their areas out of coronavirus restrictions after four weeks if the measures are not working, a group of business leaders has told the prime minister.
The proposal came in a letter from 77 northern business figures backing demands from the Northern Research Group of Tory MPs for a roadmap out of lockdown and a plan for economic recovery for the area.
The signatories – including executives from Manchester and Leeds Bradford airports, Yorkshire Energy, William Hill and the Co-op Group – warned of a “deepening” crisis in the north, where prospects for businesses and jobs were “dire” as the second lockdown gets under way in England.
They called for the creation of more metro mayors with greater powers.
And they said: “We also ask for confirmation from the government that it will be metro mayors and local authorities that have the power to take areas out of restrictions, including if after four weeks the restrictions are judged to be ineffective.”
The establishment of the NRG by more than 50 Tory MPs last month was seen as a challenge to Mr Johnson to make good on election-time promises to “level up” disadvantaged areas all around the UK, though leader Jake Berry insisted members were not rebelling against the government.
They have called for a clear roadmap for northern regions out of lockdown restrictions and the tiering system; fast-tracked infrastructure projects to stimulate jobs and growth; and a Northern Economic Recovery Plan.
The business leaders warned: “After four months of restrictions, the crisis in the north is deepening and with the announcement of another national lockdown, the outlook for businesses and jobs is dire.”
But they said that despite the Covid-19 crisis, there were promising economic indicators showing “real untapped potential” in the region.
“We support the case made by NRG parliamentarians in recent days to build back better,” they said.
“Our message is simple: our businesses and employees need government to create a clear route out of lockdown; we need barriers to business to be removed by bringing forward investment into infrastructure projects; and, we need the support of a Northern Economic Recovery Plan that will boost employment opportunities and promote economic growth across our communities.
“We also support the case for the recovery to be led from here, with further devolution to empower metro mayors to dynamically create opportunity for growth.”
“By implementing this plan, we can unlock the north’s true economic potential – simultaneously spearheading a recovery for the whole of the UK and turning levelling-up into the reality promised at the 2019 General Election.”
NRG member and Conservative MP for Cheadle, Mary Robinson, said: “We welcome the announcement that northern businesses have responded positively to our letter to the prime minister calling for the north to be prioritised in our country’s economic recovery.
“Never has there been a more pertinent and urgent political and economic case than ours.
“Instead of moving forwards on our shared ambition to level-up our communities, the cost of Covid and the virus itself threatens to send the north into reverse.”
