简体中文
Britain's newly installed Prime Minister Theresa May signalled her commitment Sunday to the flagship scheme devised by former Chancellor of the Exchequer to re-balance the north-south divide in England.
George Osborne created the Northern Powerhouse as a strategy to draw together major cities in England's industrial heartlands, such as Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle.
As May continued the task Sunday of assembling her ministerial team, she named Andrew Percy, Conservative MP for Brigg and Goole in Yorkshire as minister to lead on the Northern Powerhouse project.
Percy will carry out his ministerial role within the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
There were fears in the Northern cities that the firing of Osborne by May could threaten the project the chancellor had spearheaded.
The DCLG in London confirmed Sunday that Percy will be the minister responsible for the northern powerhouse under new Secretary of State Sajid Javid.
Percy said: "I've never chased a Ministerial job, I didn't in the last Parliament and I didn't in this one. However, we do live in somewhat bizarre times. I've decided to accept this position and, as a proud Northerner, it is one of the few roles in government I would actually quite relish. I've always championed our area as a backbencher and now I get to champion the North within government."
Downing Street Sunday named nearly 80 MPs and peers from the House of Lords for given jobs, mostly as departmental ministers, as May put the finishing touches to her team.
Her main front bench appointments were announced last week. May' s new appointments include five ministers of state to serve in the newly created Department for Exiting the EU and the Department for International Trade, tasked with arranging Britain's "divorce" from Europe, and seeking trade deals with new global partners.
Meanwhile Labour MP Owen Smith Sunday officially launched his bid to become the new leader of the main opposition party, joining Angela Eagle in a challenge to current party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Labour MPs Monday will hear speeches by Eagle and Smith in the hope that one will go forward to challenge Corbyn.
(APD)