2020 is already shaping up to be a crucial year for Core Cities UK and other organisations who want to rebalance our nation. There are early positive signs that this administration ‘gets’ the link between empowering UK regions and nations and boosting our flatlining levels of productivity. The Prime Minister has talked on a number of occasions about ‘unleashing potential’ by investing in UK regions and nations, but we now need these warm words to become policy reality.

The Government can make a bold start by backing and delivering HS2, the biggest infrastructure project in Western Europe, and finally bin the damaging ‘either/or’ argument and invest in linked projects like the Northern Powerhouse Rail and Midlands Engine Rail.