Entrepreneurs and politicians meet to debate North-South divide

A mix of top entrepreneurs, decision makers and politicians will descend on Manchester next month to debate the challenges posed by the North-South divide.

Downtown in Business is staging its Northern Revolution conference which takes place on the morning of Thursday July 3.

The event will feature author of ‘Red Tory’ and founder of Think Tank ResPublica Philip Blond; the founder of Enterprise Nation and co-founder of Start - Up Britain, Emma Jones; Shadow Energy Minister Jonny Reynolds MP; Yorkshire entrepreneur Ajaz Ahmed; Baroness Susan Williams and Sir Howard Bernstein.

Downtown chief executive Frank McKenna commented: “This conference ‘Bridging the Gap’ offers a forum to discuss and debate how we can genuinely begin to tackle the perennial problem of the North /South divide.

“As an organisation, Downtown believes that there needs to be radical structural change to the way we are governed at a local and regional level, with the introduction of metro mayors for city regions and elected Governors for counties such as Lancashire.

“However it is not just about governance arrangements but a transfer of powers, finance and responsibilities from Westminster too. We need to see the North of England given the same type of devolution afforded to the mayor of London.”

The half day event will also focus on strategic issues such as transport, economic development and enterprise, and how the North can develop an infrastructure beyond HS2 that will make it more competitive – and ask how practical the establishment of a ‘super council of the North’ that includes Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool would be.

The Northern Revolution conference takes place on July 3 at Manchester Town Hall. For more information email roger.jonas@downtowninbusiness.com.