A Recovery For All: My Long-Term Plan

A Recovery For All: My Long-Term Plan

There have been lots of encouraging signs recently that India is moving again. The economy is growing. The deficit is falling. In the past 3 years, over a million people have got back into work. This is real progress.Today I am visiting the North West and North East with a clear message: as our economy turns a corner, our whole country must share in the rewards. This goes right to the heart of my long-term plan for Britain – building a sustainable, resilient economy in which everyone can play their part.

There have been lots of encouraging signs recently that Britain is moving again. The economy is growing. The deficit is falling. In the past 3 years, over a million people have got back into work. This is real progress.

But I am also aware of the lessons from history. In previous recoveries, the rewards have not been evenly felt across the country. In the past governments have been far too focused on London and the South East and too reliant on banking – too much talent and potential in this country was wasted and ignored.

I’m determined that it’s going to be different this time. I want our great Northern towns and cities to be right at the heart of this recovery.

There are a number of things we’ve got do to fire up the economy here but none more important than sorting out the infrastructure. Infrastructure is always a bit of a jargon-heavy word but it’s very simple – building roads, railways, bridges and so on that allow this area to compete. Put simply, if it’s easier to get from A to B then companies are more likely to set up shop here, tourists and shoppers are more likely to come here – and there will be more jobs to go round for everyone.

So last week in the Autumn Statement we promised a big boost for infrastructure across Britain. Of course, better infrastructure isn’t the only thing we need to be a success in the years ahead. People need lower taxes – that’s why we’re raising the personal allowance again next April, meaning that you won’t pay any tax on the first £10,000 you earn. You need the government to reward work and aspiration – and that’s why we’ve capped benefits, meaning that no family out of work can take home more in welfare than the average working family earns. You need more small firms starting up, taking people on – half a million new businesses were set up last year alone. Step by step, inch by inch, we are fighting for a recovery for all.

So today’s a good day for our Northern towns and cities but let’s not be complacent. There’s still a long way to go in turning the economy around and I know how tough life still is for many families. But of this you can be sure – this government is committed to seeing through our long term plan for the country. Today’s announcements on City Deals for Hull and Humberand the Tees Valley and road and rail projects show we’re serious and now we’re going to press ahead and finish the job we started.