With the budget coming up on the 28th of October, this week’s Treasury Committee was particularly significant. We called on three expert witnesses: Dr Geoff Tily from the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Louise Hellem from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), and David Hale from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
One idea I was keen to interrogate was Andy Burnham’s mission for good growth in every postcode, driven by devolution. As the former Mayor of Manchester, the Prime Minister knows how to deliver for a city region. But how can we ensure good growth in every region, particularly those that do not have an elected mayor?
Lord O’Neill argues that what we need is not necessarily good growth in every postcode, but rather growth in cities across our regions. This week, I put the question bluntly to Dr Tily from the TUC: “Does the TUC have a view on every postcode versus … cities and … leadership of mayors?” Dr Tily’s answer was clear: “rather than good growth in every postcode, we want to ensure that people have access to good work wherever you are in the country.”
Of course, this does not mean that we should neglect rural postcodes. What it does mean, though, is that we should also focus on connectivity, allowing people across the country to commute easily into our towns and cities. Andy’s Bee Network in Greater Manchester, following TfL’s bus franchising model, is a great example of this.
A comprehensive and connected public transport system is crucial to unlocking Britain’s reindustrialisation and growth.