Campaign for the North

Campaign for the North was a Think Tank which seeks 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

The Campaign was chaired by Dr Harold Elletson, former MP for Blackpool North between 1992–1997.