Speaking to an audience of business leaders and MBA students at the Manchester Business School, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne will set out his vision for enabling Manchester to become the most creative city in Europe.
He will say:
• First, the BBC’s move to Salford must go ahead. Salford’s Media City strategy, comprising the relocated BBC departments and a thriving cluster of independent film-makers and media companies, has the potential to be the centrepiece of Manchester’s creative economy.
• Second, the Labour Government must stop stifling Manchester’s scientific creativity. In 1997, just 2% of the science budget was controlled centrally, with the remainder allocated by scientific experts. But as a result of Gordon Brown's command and control policies, over 20% of science spending is now controlled from London.
• The third step we must take if Manchester is to fulfil its creative potential is to devolve power away from London, and put it in the hands of leaders and people here. After all, people in Manchester know far better than politicians and bureaucrats in Whitehall about what is right for Manchester.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Full speech:
(Check against delivery)
“The saying goes that what Manchester does today the rest of the world does tomorrow. From railways to computers, splitting the atom to the Suffragette Movement, Manchester’s pioneering spirit has made its mark on every corner of the globe.
Today, this wellspring of creativity is as strong as ever. According to US economic regeneration expert Richard Florida's 'Boho Britain' index, Manchester is the most creative city in the UK.
And with over 18,000 people employed in creative jobs, Manchester possesses the largest concentration of creative talent anywhere in the UK.
The impact of this creativity can be seen in the dynamic urban regeneration that has changed the face of Manchester over the past two decades.
And it can be seen in Manchester University’s ambition to become one of the world’s top 25 universities by 2015.
The university is a major engine of regional growth and enterprise, contributing over a billion pounds a year to the North West region – a figure that could double if the 2015 target is met.
This creativity is the key to unlocking Manchester’s economic potential – from the centre to places like Salford, Bolton, Bury and Trafford.
Our generation should now set ourselves this bold aspiration: we must make Manchester the creative capital of the whole of Europe.
It is within our grasp. But to achieve this ambition we need to take these steps.
First, the BBC’s move to Salford must go ahead. Salford’s Media City strategy, comprising the relocated BBC departments and a thriving cluster of independent film-makers and media companies, has the potential to be the centrepiece of Manchester’s creative economy.
Over 10,000 new jobs could be created and the local creative economy could be boosted by an estimated £200m. So such a move would be good for Salford and good for Manchester. And it would good for the BBC too. Our national broadcaster would have a different perspective on our country.
But the fear is that the move will never take place. The BBC has been dragging its feet. The Government's delayed decision on the license fee has given them the excuse to delay.
I say it's time the move took place. Now.
We cannot allow this vital step forward for Manchester slip through our fingers.
Second, the Labour Government must stop stifling Manchester’s scientific creativity. In 1997, just 2% of the science budget was controlled centrally, with the remainder allocated by scientific experts. But as a result of Gordon Brown's command and control policies, over 20% of science spending is now controlled from London.
This centralised approach is choking off innovation and crushing creativity. We need to hand science budgets back to the experts, many in Manchester, and trust in their ability to innovate and break new scientific ground.
Manchester has a scientific pedigree that is truly world class. But Labour has unfortunately made life more difficult for the next generation of Rutherfords, Bohrs and Turings.
Chemistry departments like Manchester University’s world class chemistry unit are the drivers of UK competitiveness. But since 1997, 19 physics and 10 chemistry departments have closed across England and Wales. According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, within 10 years there will be only 40 chemistry departments left.
Urgent action is needed if we are to ensure that Manchester’s scientific future is as bright as its scientific past.
The third step we must take if Manchester is to fulfil its creative potential is to devolve power away from London, and put it in the hands of leaders and people here. After all, people in Manchester know far better than politicians and bureaucrats in Whitehall about what is right for Manchester.
Unleashing Manchester’s creativity means reducing the reach of Whitehall and unelected quangos, and tipping the balance of power towards the people of Manchester.
That is why we will give Greater Manchester councils the scope to redirect central government funding towards Manchester’s priorities. And that is why we will empower civic government by progressively phasing out the ring-fencing of government grants and giving Manchester the freedom to set our own spending priorities.
Three achievable steps. One ambitious vision.
Together, we can make this a reality.
Together, we can make Manchester the creative capital of Europe."