Month: August 2014

The United Kingdom and Northern Parliament

The UK / Great Britain are famous brands respected all over the world for democracy, legal system, science, culture, innovation and more.   It seems amazing that people suggest they are willing to give it up and split the country into smaller parts.

The Lancashire Evening Post today contains an article about a debate in the Continental Hotel in Preston on the effect of Scottish independence on the north and if the north should have it’s own parliament.

It’s hard to see what benefits either of these things can have.   Influence is largely based on size.  It’s no surprise that Germany is powerful in the EU, as well as their industriousness they’re by far the biggest country in terms of population.  Splitting the UK can only damage it’s influence and prestige.  To some influence and prestige may mean little but if you’re looking to get a contract and can offer a big reciprocal market it can swing the deal. Similar with world status in the G7, IMF and UN, a voice there can win friends where you are looking for benefits and deals.

A northern parliament will benefit the local politicians who will have more power.  It would add another layer of government and potential for arguments with central government. Perhaps it would be more left leaning and some would think that good if it gives some freedom from a right leaning central government.  Although it might not have enough powers to make significant changes in those areas.  It could be that if taxes in the north were higher than the Midlands then moving a few miles into a lower taxed area would be something you wouldn’t worry about and it could accelerate the movement of jobs south.  Or maybe if benefits were better in the north the unemployed would move north.  Whereas a Scot might think twice about moving into England.

With independence Scotland will be free they say!  The freedom will be to have limited scope  for change at home, not even having their own currency, and to be of no consequence whatsoever on the world stage.   In many ways Scottish independence could benefit the north as many jobs in shipbuilding, government and defence are based there and they’d possibly be moved to the north of England. Those northern windmills could be more affordable rather than subsidising Scottish windmills.  Although overall it would damage the UK in terms of size and influence.  There’s no doubt to me all sides are better together.

Transport Investment around Preston

On top of the Northern Hub which will deliver electrified rail for the rail links from Preston to Manchester via Bolton and via Wigan and to Blackpool we have fresh discussion on a ‘northern powerhouse’.

The Northern Powerhouse is the name given to a scheme that is intended to help revitalise the north of England and to rebalance the level of investment between the north and south.   It will link 5 major cities of the north with ‘high speed’ rail, meaning over 125mph not the full standard over 200mph track but still possibly designated ‘HS3’.  This will be on top of the high speed rail system HS2.

Unfortunately neither HS2 or ‘HS3’ reach Preston.  Although Preston will get benefits from HS2 such as 30 minutes off the current London timing of just over 2hrs.

Also locally there is the Preston and Lancashire City Deal which will add some £400m to the local economy for rail, road and housing.  This will provide local improvements to complement the bigger national improvements. The test is whether Preston can or should become a part of the Northern Powerhouse and what it offers for Preston and Preston offers it.

Towns like Blackburn and Blackpool will also want to know how they can benefit rather than being satellite towns.  Preston has the benefit of being on the M6 and the West Coast Main Line although further south the town of Wigan is closer to the edge of the planned systems investment.  Preston has a skills benefit being an existing major administration  and education centre and having a long term advanced technology industry in aerospace and vehicles.

It does appear that all major regional investments lead to Manchester.  This has some benefits to Preston but we need to get extensions to these routes to take in the hub of Lancashire, which is Preston.