South West businesses have accused the Government of 鈥渢hrowing a hand grenade鈥 at plans to level up the country by prioritising the creation of new mayoralties in the North of England.
Tim Jones, chairman of the South West Business Council (SWBC), said ministers were concentrating on an 鈥渦rban centric economy鈥 at the expense of rural areas.
His remarks came after communities secretary Robert Jenrick told the Financial Times that Cumbria, North Yorkshire and East Riding of Yorkshire could have elected mayors as the Government committed to 鈥渨iden and deepen鈥 the devolution agenda.
More on the economy of the South West
But Mr Jones, chairman of the South West Business Council (SWBC), said Mr Jenrick鈥檚 comments were 鈥渉ugely inflammatory鈥 and that 鈥渟oundings鈥 from businesses in the South West revealed they felt rural areas, and the South West in particular, were being neglected.
鈥淗e鈥檚 thrown a large hand grenade that will further the divide between cities and the rural areas,鈥 Mr Jones said. 鈥淏ig cities are their priority. The Government has little interest in our rural economy. But they should work out a strategy for rural and urban areas.鈥
The SWBC concerns come just a week after Prime Minister Boris Johnson was asked to make good on years of promises to Back the Great South West.
In an open letter to the premier, Bill Martin, publisher of the Western Morning News, which with Pennon spearheaded the #BackTheGreatSouthWest campaign, wrote that economic leaders in the region are frustrated after five years of 鈥渨arm words鈥 but a dearth of action on plans for the region to become a beacon for the green economy.
Now a new levelling up white paper is due for publication this autumn, understood to supersede a previously promised devolution plan.
Mr Jenrick told the FT there is still 鈥渋nterest鈥 in creating three northern mayoralties, but in rural areas county deals, due to be confirmed in that white paper, may be more appropriate.
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Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
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This concept takes devolution beyond the largest cities, offering the same powers metro mayors have gained over the likes of transport, skills and economic support. County Deals are expected to be bespoke to the needs of individual places, allowing them to pilot ideas, create jobs, drive growth and improve public services.
But Mr Jones said these deals could be sub-standard and added: 鈥淭he Government is saying that if you are not a mayoralty you will be a lower category. So if you read it the way we are it鈥檚 a highly volatile situation and we are always going to be playing catch up on funding.鈥
