Northern Powerhouse Minister urged to highlight risks “Brexit poses to economic growth”

Northern Powerhouse Minister James Wharton is being urged to send a clear message about the risks that Brexit poses to the Powerhouse project when he visits Leeds on Friday June 17th.

Martin Venning, director of the UK Northern Powerhouse Conference and Exhibition, believes Wharton must use his appearance in Leeds to encourage people to vote remain in the EU Referendum on June 23rd.

Wharton is due in Leeds city centre on Friday to speak at a ‘Building the Northern Powerhouse’ event at AQL Telecoms’ headquarters.

His visit follows warnings from Chancellor George Osborne earlier this week, speaking at the International Festival for Business in Liverpool, that Brexit posed a threat to the Northern Powerhouse.

The previous UK Northern Powerhouse Conference, which attracted 2,300 delegates when it was held in February this year, resulted in the publication of a report called ’Next Steps for Transformation. This report was based on research by IPSOS Mori and included calls for investment in east-west transport infrastructure rather than north-south investment.

Many of the report’s recommendations have been picked up by Government and will be addressed by Wharton at tomorrow’s conference.

Conference-organiser Venning, who is based in Leeds, said: “The UK faces what is arguably the most important ballot any of us will take part in in our lifetimes.

“Wharton must use his platform in Leeds to issue a rallying cry to businesses and to all voters to ensure that they realise the risks which Brexit poses to economic growth in the North and to the prospects for Government investment in the North.

“Our report was based on the views of more than 2,000 businesses from all sectors, across the entire North of England, and sent a very clear message about the EU, with almost 70% of businesses wanting the UK to stay in the EU.

“Delegates also expressed the view that skills was going to be one of the most critical enablers for growth and that it was essential that skills provision matched the needs of business.”

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