IN 2014, George Osborne, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer announced under a hail of press interest the creation of the “Northern Powerhouse”.

This was an idea to link up the North of England (so often ignored by successive governments) with the affluent southern counties.

It was a crude and quick response to attempt to appease increasingly loud calls from people and businesses in the north that were finding a voice. It did though seem to resonate, and it was linked to a larger plan based on the HS2 railway. From this idea came devolution plans based on directly-elected mayors which would have powers to run their areas and manage substantial budgets.

Manchester and Liverpool played the game and elected mayors. The North-East, however, is going to take a great deal more persuasion.

Newcastle and surrounding areas voted yes recently to adopting the mayoral route but Gateshead bucked the trend and said no.

So what is this Northern Powerhouse then? Goodness knows. There have been one or two high level conferences including speakers such as Lord Heseltine. A check on the internet reveals a very slick website offering a Christmas lunch. This includes entertainment by John Culshaw from the TV can be had at a cost of tables of ten at £1,500 or £150 individually.

There are also various Northern Powerhouse awards to apply for and maybe achieve. The national conference for the Northern Powerhouse is in February 2017.

So…lots going on there then!

There are an awful lot of the good and the great listed on the advisory board. They have very great titles in marketing and liaison, and governance too.

Our local MP James Wharton was the minister with the portfolio for this powerhouse but in the recent reshuffle, we have a brand new guy Andrew Percy, the MP for Brigg and Goole – yes, he is a Northern MP but he is hardly based in an industrial heartland.

The Northern Powerhouse failed to save the SSI steel plant at Redcar and that will always be a monkey on its back. I cannot find any information as to a single brick being laid, a railway track being upgraded or laid a new business innovation or set up.

Is there any Powerhouse money being found to protect the indoor market in Darlington or the development of the prison in Northallerton? Has there been any linkup to Sir Gary Verity’s Welcome to Yorkshire? I cannot find it.

So get involved with the Northern Powerhouse, get some friends together and have a Xmas bash at a mere £1,500. Book yourself a ticket for the big annual conference in February next year, for sure there is not a lot of anything else going on.

Stephen Place, chairman Ukip Richmond (Yorks), Leeming Bar