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POLITICS


Now, more than ever, the Government must back a winner


The latest figures for investment across the UK prove beyond doubt that the current and future success of the East Midlands comes in spite of rather than because of Government support. This region contributes more to the national


economy than anywhere in the UK outside London and the South East. We make more here than anywhere in the UK and we are very good at shipping what we make around the world. Despite our success, however, Government


continues to invest less in the East Midlands than the rest of the country. The concept of backing a winner appears lost against the lobbying might of our neighbours to the north, south and west.


The Treasury’s latest figures show the East Midlands has: • the lowest level of public expenditure on ‘economic affairs’


• the second-lowest spending on health care • the second-lowest spending on education • the lowest public expenditure on transport, both in total and per head


• the lowest level of public expenditure on rail per head, and


• the third-lowest public expenditure on services per head.


If the national average spend per capita has a


value of 100, regional spending data shows the East Midlands at 90 compared with London at 111, the North East at 106 and the North West at 103. In terms in infrastructure investment, it would be worse than 60. “This lack of investment, based on the


Government’s own figures, was highlighted a year ago, but since then the situation has


worsened,” said Chris Hobson, the Chamber’s Director of Policy. “Last November, many of our regional MPs –


led by the Rt Hon Nicky Morgan, Chair of the Treasury Select Committee, and Lilian Greenwood, Chair of the Transport Select Committee – signed a declaration calling for national parity on infrastructure investment for the East Midlands. “It’s depressing to see that the latest figures


show a worsening of our investment standing. The question we have to ask is: ‘Why?’ “We’re very good in the Midlands at developing


all the right arguments to demonstrate what we can achieve with the right investment. But we’re not good at playing political games. “We could have the best case for investment


in the world. But if a Minister wants to score quick points in an area where they’re coming under flack or Government holds marginal seats, then nine times out of ten, that’s where the money will go. We’re too often viewed as politically dispensable. “We’re light on the ground in the East Midlands


in terms of political insiders, people who really understand how Westminster works. Other parts of the country have think tanks and agencies staffed by former ‘special advisers’ and policy specialists, with large marketing and PR budgets. As a result they take control of the conversation. “Despite some great universities and real


innovation coming out of the East Midlands, we’re pretty light on the ground in terms of people who know what strings to pull and when to pull them. On top of that, despite massive improvements in recent times, we’re still relatively disjointed in terms of our messaging when compared with, say, the northern MPs.


‘We’re light on the ground in the East Midlands in terms of political insiders, people who really understand how Westminster works’


“I’ll never forget the Prime Minister’s


Questions immediately after the Midlands Main Line Electrification was cancelled last year. Northern MPs were queuing up to air their disgust while we appeared to be sitting in the sidings on the subject. “But it takes more than good arguments,


willing MPs and a knowledge of how things work to win funding. We also need to make ourselves easy to fund. And that’s where our current structures hinder us. “We can have the best partnerships in the


world, but when the current Government sees a single Conservative Mayor in the West Midlands and compares it to the many voices in the East Midlands, then all too often it’s easier for the investment to follow the path of least resistance. “That isn’t to say we need an East Midlands


mayor. But we must get better at presenting ourselves as a united force and have the simple, yet rigorous, structures to support investment. “All is not lost, though. Recently, there have


been good moves made to strengthen these areas. Our local authorities are discussing ways of working better together. And whatever develops from the recent national review of Local Enterprise Partnerships will, hopefully, simplify how they operate across our patch. “The time has come to stand up and fight for


the investment that our hard-won growth deserves. We have fantastic opportunities here, typified by the East Midlands Gateway Strategic Rail Freight Interchange that is nearing completion on the northern boundary of East Midlands Airport. “This is private money being invested in the


region, private money that is not backed by Government investment. “It’s quite impressive what the business


community is achieving in the region. Just imagine how much more we’d get done if Government were to back a winner.”


44 business network October 2018


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