‘Stop sneering at northern Brexit voters’, think-tank warns

IPPR North's annual State of the North report for 2016, published on the 9 December 2016, addressed the three key issues – Brexit, industrial strategy and local economic resilience – that will build business confidence amid unpredictable times, and offers a comprehensive assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each LEP area in the region.

In terms of Brexit, dark clouds were gathering on the horizon following the events since June 2016 that have engendered more than a wobble – uncertainty now pervades the northern mood. Regardless of current quarter on quarter national GDP growth, the decision to leave the EU will have a profound effect on the northern economy. Whether in terms of trade, access to skilled labour or EU funding programmes, the implications of Brexit on the North will be profound. There will be upsides of course but for the time being business is cautious and concerned. The political fallout from the Brexit vote has also been severe.

The North has distinct economic assets and interests that present both opportunities and threats as the UK prepares to leave the European Union. However, the fledgling and patchy development of combined authorities, metro mayors and devolution deals in the North means that the region is not well placed to formulate a coherent response to Brexit. It will therefore struggle to match the response of the devolved administrations for Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, or of the mayor of London or other well-established lobbying groups.

IPPR North called for the formation of a Northern Brexit Negotiating Committee to determine the type of Brexit that would best suit the North, to speak with one voice in the negotiations, and to build direct relationships with regions and nations within and beyond the EU in order to develop and enhance its particular trade interests.

Those who supported remaining in the EU must listen to, rather than sneer at, the concerns of northern leave voters, the IPPR warned - while leave supporters should not ignore the vital importance of European trade for the North of England.

Given North’s Leave vote, a focus on creating a resilient economy in post-industrial towns was key to Brexit success.

IPPR: Publication, December 2016: The state of the North 2016: Building northern resilience in an era of global uncertainty http://www.ippr.org/publications/the-state-of-the-north-2016

The Guardian, 09.12.16: Northern England's Brexit voters need to be heard, says thinktank https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/09/northern-englands-brexit-voters-need-to-be-heard-says-thinktank

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