Former Labour heartland seats which the Tories won in the election face losing the most in Boris Johnson’s Brexit plan, a new study has claimed.
Research by the IPPR think tank showed the so-called ‘blue wall’ seats in the north and Midlands are highly dependent on EU goods exports for their prosperty.
Wales was also hit, with Flintshire and Wrexham – including Delyn, Vale of Clwyd and Wrexham – judged to be the most dependent with 65% of the local economy accounted for by EU exports.
South and West Derbyshire – where Derby North was lost to the Tories – was the joint third most dependent region on EU exports accounting for 27% of the economy.
Parts of the Tees Valley, where the Tories took Redcar and Stockton South, were also among the top 10 areas most dependent on EU exports, according to analysis of ONS figures from 2016.
The IPPR research, reported in The Times, said creating barriers with the EU – after Boris Johnson vowed not to have close alignment with EU rules and regulations after Brexit – could hit these seats hardest.
(Image: PA)
Marley Morris of the think tank said: “There are striking patterns that in areas of north wales, the north east and Midlands – many that voted to leave – actually stand to be worse affected by any potential disruption in trade.”
It comes as the Tory Government is being forced to address decades of inequality between the north and south after their shock election wins in traditional Labour heartland seats.
The Treasury is considering changing its spending rules to help boost investment in the North and the Midlands after seats including Redcar, Darlington and Bishop Auckland fell to the Tories.
The changes follow years of underinvestment in the former industrial heartlands.
The economic divide between London and the rest of the UK widened last year, according to official data released earlier this month (DEC).
The capital recorded a 1.1% annual rise in output per person to £54,700 in 2018, increasing the per capita gap with the poorest region — the North East — where growth was only 0.4% to £23,600 per head, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.
Boris Johnson is already feeling the pressure from the newly-elected Tories to deliver from their areas.
Rule changes would mean investment decisions would take into account improving people’s wellbeing or narrowing the productivity gap with the South and focus less on overall national economic growth.
The proposals being considered ahead of the spring Budget would affect how officials work out the value for money of investments in transport, business development and other initiatives.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson stressed that the Conservatives must work hard to maintain the voters who may have “lent” their backing in order to implement Brexit .
Labour’s Alison McGovern, who has sat on the Treasury Select Committee, cautiously welcomed the change.
She said: “Ripping up Treasury rules is a good thing if it means better plans to develop our economy in line with social and climate objectives.
“If it means pork-barrel politics to back up Tory MPs it will not change our country for the better.”
A Treasury spokesperson said: “We work across Government to ensure investment is focused on where it is needed across the UK and delivers value for money for the taxpayer.”
