The concept has been criticised in recent weeks after the government decided to close its biggest office outside London. The decision by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to close its Sheffield office by 2018, resulting in the loss of 240 jobs, was condemned by Labour as revealing the government’s “London-centric focus and contempt for the north of England”.
Cridland urged northerners to take the powerhouse concept seriously, saying he would not have taken the 30-day-a-year chairmanship if he thought it was an empty gimmick. The devolution deals signed with Greater Manchester and other city regions showed Osborne was serious, he insisted: “I just see an opportunity, of London prepared to let go. You have to almost pinch yourself a bit. [Osborne] has not just made a speech about it, he’s signing these deals, he’s signing off on things flowing in our direction.
“Secondly, just as important, I’m seeing civic and business leaders coming together in a coalition of the willing. That’s counterintuitive as well. Two sides of the Pennines, different political parties – lots of reasons why a one north vision has been elusive until now. But London seems prepared to let go and leadership in the north is grabbing the opportunity … It feels pretty real to me.”