A new Conservative Government will need to transform the economy. It remains to be seen whether this be done with a majority based on northern, post-industrial Britain.
The image of large swathes of the north, as a post-industrial wasteland, filled with abandoned Victorian terraces, isn’t just wrong and offensive. It’s actively dangerous.
His time and room are very constricted, but he can at least demonstrate his domestic priorities – police and schools.
The Party cannot be one of the South and of the countryside if it is to engage with voters – and to win.
They are chosen not from a factional or ideological standpoint, but from what I see while doing the job of Mayor.
Specifically for anti-Brexit politicians, the path to creating such a party lies firmly on what we think of as the Left;
In a balanced economy, the north would produce around £70 billion more. Here is one way to help close that gap.
The combination of crucial Brexit votes, crumbling ministerial discipline, growing grassroots discontent and a rail crisis serves to intensify pressure on Downing Street.
It would be easy, but mistaken, to take the path of least resistance and simply re-enact the dated Cameron ‘modernising’ agenda.
As so many elections have shown in the past, both the main parties only win elections when they move into the centre.
Transport for the North can now set its own priorities and make its own plans – but Westminster must devolve more powers to allow it to reach its full potential.
It would be the logical next step after taking back control from Brussels. And it would pull the rug from under Corbyn’s feet.
Gone is the Conservative certainty of reducing taxes to promote businesses’ own investment and growth.
I hope that we will see more of the Chancellor during the campaign explaining how his plans can help support investment to boost productivity.