Call for county to get involved in Northern Powerhouse

Downtown in Business’ Frank McKenna, was speaking after the special Transport Summit for the north of England, which was hosted by his organisation in Leeds last week, following an announcement by Transport Minister Chris Grayling that suggested funding for Crossrail North may be scrapped.

Contributors included political leaders from Greater Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Hull.

Mr Mckenna said: “It was an important event, in that it brought together business and political leaders from across the north.

"I know there were Lancashire representatives in the room, but none had the authority to act as a spokesperson for the county in the same way as metro mayors, or indeed leaders who sit on formally constituted combined authorities, did. Lancashire’s shadow combined authority has not progressed quickly enough.

“Lancashire needs to get its act together, and be able to offer this group a legitimate voice who cangenuinely speak on behalf of the county.”

Mr McKenna added that there were no excuses for Lancashire not to be ready to take its place at theNorthern Powerhouse table.

“I wrote to all Lancashire leaders two years ago, urging them to act then. I advised that they formeda Combined Authority, and negotiated a devolution deal with government as a matter of urgency.

“With a change of personnel at the top of government, and now much of the civil service embroiledin Brexit negotiations, I am frustrated that we didn’t get on and do it back then.

“Challenging though the new political landscape is, I would appeal to the County Council and othersto finally formalise the Combined Authority, and enable Lancashire to punch its weight.

"The issues that are being decided are too important to allow parochial politics to get in the way of this crucialdevelopment.”