Campaign for the North
Campaign for the North was a think tank which sought to address the North–South divide and establish a Regional Government for the North of England covering the six historic counties of the region. The Campaign promoted a devo-max settlement and, in doing so, aimed to create a Northern Government with tax-raising powers and responsibility for policy areas including economic development, education, health, policing and emergency services.
Goals of the Campaign
- A Northern Government and a directly elected Parliament for the North of England
- A major reform of local government – removing a layer of administration
- Constitutional reform and a new House of Lords more representative of the regions
- The merger of the North's 11 police forces into a single Police Service of Northern England
- A ‘whole system’ approach to health, social care and welfare
- Investment in education and the guarantee of a ‘fair deal’ for young people
- The creation of a ‘Bank of the North’, partly inspired by the German Landesbank regional banking system.
- A 10-year transport plan for the North, with electrification and new trains
- Sustainability at the heart of Government and more support for the North's environment