Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has made a renewed call for hundreds of Treasury jobs that are set to move North to be based in Teesside, Darlington or Hartlepool.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed during the Budget that he will set up a new economic campus in the North led by the Treasury where 750 jobs, about a fifth of Treasury positions, will move over time, and they will be joined by members of other economic facing departments.
Following the confirmation from the Chancellor, Mayor Houchen is now urging the Government to prove they are serious about their levelling up agenda by sending the jobs to the Teesside, Darlington and or Hartlepool, rather than major cities such as Leeds or Manchester.
Mayor Houchen said: “The confirmation of the Chancellor’s plan to move Treasury jobs out of London and to the North is further proof that having a Northern MP like Rishi running the Treasury ensures the voices of Northern voters are being heard at the heart of Government.
“I have had a number of conversations already with Rishi about this excellent idea of relocating a substantial number of Treasury jobs out of London and to the North as part of a new economic campus.
“Having a major Treasury presence in the North would be a clear demonstration of the Government’s levelling up agenda, but to do so, the jobs must not go to Manchester or Leeds, they need to come to a region like the one I represent.
“This would be the proof to voters in the North who backed Boris Johnson in the general election that the Government is recognising the North is more than just the major cities, and Rishi can make this happen by bringing these jobs to Teesside, Darlington or Hartlepool.”
