Lib Dems say it's grim up North

IAN Marks, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Warrington Borough Council joined a group of party chiefs to lobby Chancellor George Osborne for better funding for economic regeneration in the North.
Northern Northern Liberal Democrat MPs, peers and 26 council group leaders united for the initiative.
In a budget submission titled “Grim up North?”, they argued that English northern regions have done more than their fair share of heavy lifting when it comes to a addressing the nation’s deficit.
They claim that if the coalition is serious about re-balancing the economy, the government needs to take a long hard look at how money is currently spent, particularly in those key areas that stimulate economic growth.
“Grim up North?” argues that the voice of the north has been crowded out by the “London influence” found in all parties.
There are disproportionately few northern voices in the corridors of power.
Cllr Marks (pictured) said: “We are not a bunch of whinging northerners asking for a hand-out, but a region demanding the financial and political powers to shape the nation’s economy in a more balanced and sustainable way.
That’s what the government wants but hasn’t yet given sufficient clout to.
“Here in Warrington we have been fortunate because we are one of the country’s economic hotspots. But we cannot escape the fact that there is a north/south divide and there is a need for central government to re-examine its spending priorities to rebalance the economy. There are gaps in skills, productivity and income presided over by governments of all hues in recent years.
“As the Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has recently said, there is a danger of London draining life out of the regions. We cannot allow this to happen. The next two budgets are critical and it’s time for corrective action to be taken.”