'Making Manchester Britain's second city should be a national priority'
Lord Jim O'Neil has called for more powers to be shifted to regions like it has in Greater Manchester. The ex-Treasury Minister, who was born in Manchester and grew up in Gatley, made the comments on a podcast recorded with Lord Speaker Lord McFall of Alcluith.
On the podcast, the ex-Goldman Sachs chief economist backs calls by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham for more devolved welfare-related spending, and recommends building a 'Northern Elizabeth Line' to unlock connectivity between cities across the UK.
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During the discussion, the former Conservative government minister also advocates for powers for regions to raise local taxes.
He said: "When I mention that to policymakers here, they think I'm bonkers.
"And the only reason they think I'm bonkers is because it's never happened.
"But because it's never happened, why does that mean it shouldn't happen?"
He added: 'How can people, as well-intentioned as they may be sitting here in Whitehall, have the slightest idea about what's really needed in these local areas? It's virtually impossible.
"People here (in Westminster) need to have excitement about giving responsibility to local people in these places to make a national difference.
"If you could have, say, three or four other places, West Midlands, North-East, probably West Yorkshire and two or three others … if they all could be doing the same as Greater Manchester has done, and Manchester carries on doing, the national growth performance of the UK, the trend rate of growth, would rise.
"Glasgow would be a place that could make a difference to the national growth performance. So I'd definitely include Glasgow."
At another point in the wide-ranging discussion, Lord O'Neill said: "Thomas Heatherwick, the great young architect, said to me, 'I have this crazy idea about making Manchester the second city of the country and it being a national priority.' I said, 'You're right'."
The episode is the latest in a series of Lord Speaker's Corner podcasts which has previously included Lord Heseltine, Lord Kinnock, Baroness Kidron and Lord Patten among others.
The podcast is available to watch on YouTube.
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