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Yorkshire infrastructure key to David Cameron’s vision of a ‘Northern powerhouse’

Prime Minister David Cameron highlighted Yorkshire infrastructure, including HS3 and trans-Pennines roads as part of his vision for a ‘Northern powerhouse’.

Northern transport links were at the forefront of the PM’s address to business leaders at the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) annual conference in London today, as part of the Government’s £15 billion infrastructure spend.

The EU and devolution also played a part in the speeches of the leaders speaking to the CBI, though Labour’s Ed Miliband was met with caution by the CBI who said they feared that his party’s interventionism may be harmful to business.

David Cameron said: “We know to secure Britain’s future, we need world-class infrastructure. Families need it to get around; businesses need it to create jobs; we need it to compete with the world and deliver economic security.

“So whenever we have been faced with the choice between the past and the future, we have always chosen the future.

“Not just HS2 and Crossrail; but HS3, the biggest investment in our railways since the Victorian time, a new nuclear power station and tapping shale gas – we have always chosen the future.

“We want to rebalance the economy. People say all the recovery is in the South. That’s not true.

Ed Miliband, leader of the opposition and also speaking to the CBI said: “You have told me about the failures of decision-making on infrastructure that have bedevilled Britain for decades.

“You have told me that you have no voice in important decisions that affect your business.

“So we will end the century of centralisation in our country that has hampered economic growth outside London.

“And we will devolve economic power, building on Local Enterprise Partnerships, so that you can shape the things that matter to you, from training to transport.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .