A BLUEPRINT to spread wealth from the south east to the UK regions has been welcomed by Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman.
But the Labour MP said urgent action was needed to put the proposals advocated by Lord Heseltine into effect.
The former Conservative minister urged the Government to shift power and billions of pounds of funds away from Whitehall to “unleash the power” of cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle.
Mr Sheerman, who is co-chairman of the Commons manufacturing group of MPs and the Yorkshire group of MPs at Westminster, said: “We aim to make sure we get action on these recommendations.
“I had a brief meeting with Lord Heseltine and congratulated him on his report.
“I have also raised the matter with George Osborne in Chancellor’s Questions.
“We don’t want this report kicking into the long grass.”
Mr Sheerman, pictured, said there would be a role to play for the local authority-led Local Enterprise Partnerships, which replaced regional development agencies. But he said: “LEPs have to be given the resources, not just rely on local council money because local councils are already cash-strapped.”
In his report, Lord Heseltine urged the Government to shift power and billions of pounds of funds away from Whitehall to “unleash the power” of cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle.
He said too much power had been accumulated in London as he called for public money to “mobilise the potential” of provincial English cities.
