Government will move Treasury staff north, fulfilling Labour manifesto pledge

John McDonnell said Labour's policy would shift political gravity away from London.

Angel of the North

Rishi Sunak has proposed moving 750 Treasury civil servants to the North of England, implementing one of Labour’s 2019 manifesto promises.

According to the Financial Times, Sunak will create a ‘Treasury North’ in Leeds, Newcastle or Teeside.

This policy was not mentioned in the 2019 Conservative manifesto but Labour’s said: “We will shift the political centre of gravity by placing the National Transformation Fund Unit, a key part of the Treasury, in the North of England”.

On announcing the policy, then Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said: “Labour’s Treasury ministers will meet outside of London and will have a ministerial office in the North. The centre of gravity of political gravity is shifting away from London.”

Labour also promised to “build up the regional offices of government in each of the nine English regions to co-ordinate government policies at the regional level, as well as ensuring a regional voice in Whitehall”.

Joe Lo is a co-editor of Left Foot Forward

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