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The reshuffle that achieved nothing for the north The reshuffle that achieved nothing for the north
(about 11 hours later)
Welcome back to the political season. After weeks of sporting entertainment like no other and days spent on the sunloungers, Westminster is back with a bang.Welcome back to the political season. After weeks of sporting entertainment like no other and days spent on the sunloungers, Westminster is back with a bang.
Almost exactly half way through the current Parliament, David Cameron has not just reshuffled his team but showed his ruthless streak in ditching a number of ministers whom, he felt, had not lived up to expectation. Almost exactly half way through the current parliament, David Cameron has not just reshuffled his team but showed his ruthless streak in ditching a number of ministers whom, he felt, had not lived up to expectation.
With the 2015 General Election in prospect, the watchword for ministers now will be 'delivery', for inside Downing Street the fear is not that the policies that the coalition is pursuing to get growth are wrong, but that the Whitehall machine is not delivering them anywhere near quickly enough. With the 2015 general election in prospect, the watchword for ministers now will be "delivery", for inside Downing Street the fear is not that the policies that the coalition is pursuing to get growth are wrong, but that the Whitehall machine is not delivering them anywhere near quickly enough.
Cue therefore the no nonsense Chris Grayling moving to Justice Secretary, the Conservative tough guy, Michael Fallon moving to the department for business, innovation and skills and the political bruiser, Patrick McLoughlin taking over as transport secretary. It is on shoulders such as these that David Cameron will be hoping to deliver on the Government's core-objectives on economic growth and to toughen its record on crime and punishment. Cue therefore the no nonsense Chris Grayling moving to justice secretary, the Conservative tough guy, Michael Fallon moving to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the political bruiser, Patrick McLoughlin taking over as transport secretary. It is on shoulders such as these that David Cameron will be hoping to deliver on the government's core objectives on economic growth and to toughen its record on crime and punishment.
All well and good, or at least understandable. But for northern England, little can be expected from the reshuffle. With Dewsbury-born Baroness Sayeeda Warsi being demoted from Conservative party chair and the Hazel Grove MP, Andrew Stunell losing his post at the department for communities, based on minor appointments made so far, there is just one extra northern MP in government. All well and good, or at least understandable. But for northern England, little can be expected from the reshuffle. With Dewsbury-born Lady Warsi being demoted from Conservative party chair and the Hazel Grove MP, Andrew Stunell losing his post at the Department for Communities, based on minor appointments made so far, there is just one extra northern MP in government.
On a purely statistical basis therefeore, there will be no noticeable increase in the strength of northern voices within Whitehall. But there is something far more fundamental at issue: the persistent attention being given to London and the south east as the hub of growth. On a purely statistical basis therefeore, there will be no noticeable increase in the strength of northern voices within Whitehall. But there is something far more fundamental at issue: the persistent attention being given to London and the south-east as the hub of growth.
Yes, it was not that long ago that the department for transport announced a substantial package of investment in the Northern Hub and rail routes between the north and London but I am far from the only northerner to wonder what impact these will have for now. Such projects are a long way from actually happening. Yes, it was not that long ago that the Department for Transport announced a substantial package of investment in the Northern Hub and rail routes between the north and London but I am far from the only northerner to wonder what impact these will have for now. Such projects are a long way from actually happening.
So what then of the next big transport project: namely whether or not Heathrow should have a third runway or if an entirely new airport is needed in the south east? Whatever the answer might be, post Olympics, the issue shows again that ministerial attention is focused not on the north and unlocking its potential, but on a major infrastructure project which overwhelmingly stands to benefit southern England. So what then of the next big transport project: namely whether or not Heathrow should have a third runway or if an entirely new airport is needed in the south-east? Whatever the answer might be post-Olympics, the issue shows again that ministerial attention is focused not on the north and unlocking its potential, but on a major infrastructure project which overwhelmingly stands to benefit southern England.
As the new 'Team Cameron' gets to work, the voice of the north at the top table will be no more stronger and with an increasingly outspoken Mayor of London on our TV screens on a near daily basis, one wonders how our regions can best gain a voice and reposition themselves as a place that can kick start UK PLC. Perhaps directly-elected mayors would work to provide the stronger, visible leadership the region needs, not just on a city basis, but regionally too. We might have rejected them last time round but if we consider deeply, is the current system of local government, comprised of many councillors most of us didn't vote for let alone have heard of, being managed by officers with fancy titles, really working in our best interests? As the new "team Cameron" gets to work, the voice of the north at the top table will be no more stronger and with an increasingly outspoken mayor of London on our TV screens on a near daily basis, one wonders how our regions can best gain a voice and reposition themselves as a place that can kickstart UK plc. Perhaps directly-elected mayors would work to provide the stronger, visible leadership the region needs, not just on a city basis, but regionally too. We might have rejected them last time round but if we consider deeply, is the current system of local government, comprised of many councillors most of us have not voted for, let alone heard of, being managed by officers with fancy titles, really working in our best interests?
I've lost count of the number of conferences I've attended in the region at which the same faces crop up over and over again. What do they achieve? The point is simple – we now have a situation in which there are no big hitters from the region, beating the drum for the north in Government. We therefore have to create our own to counter the daily stream of Boris TV we currently get on the news. I've lost count of the number of conferences I've attended in the region at which the same faces crop up over and over again. What do they achieve? The point is simple – we now have a situation in which there are no big hitters from the region, beating the drum for the north in government. We therefore have to create our own to counter the daily stream of Boris TV we currently get on the news.
If the current incumbent of Number 10 fears the prospect of going down as a one term Prime Minister he may live to regret the lack of attention he has given to northern England. There is a very real danger that without high profile ministerial muscle from the north we are in danger of witnessing a continued path towards a disunited Kingdom as the north and south begin to resemble very different places. If the current incumbent of No 10 fears the prospect of going down as a one-term prime minister he may live to regret the lack of attention he has given to northern England. There is a very real danger that without high-profile ministerial muscle from the north we are in danger of witnessing a continued path towards a disunited kingdom as the north and south begin to resemble very different places.
What do you think? Is Cameron giving up on the north? Can he really win a General Election outright without it? What do you think? Is Cameron giving up on the north? Can he really win a general election outright without it?
Ed Jacobs is a political consultant at the Leeds based Public Affairs Company and devolution correspondent for the centre-left political and policy blog, Left Foot Forward.
 Ed Jacobs is a political consultant at the Leeds-based Public Affairs Company and devolution correspondent for the centre-left political and policy blog, Left Foot Forward.