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PM backs daily’s campaign on great divide

A regional newspaper’s campaign to tackle the North-South divide has been backed by the Prime Minister after the editor hand-delivered a copy of the paper to 10 Downing Street.

Yorkshire Post editor Peter Charlton launched the Fair Deal for Yorkshire campaign earlier this month amid concerns from businesses and members of the public that the North was being left behind following the recession.

On 17 July the paper produced a five-page spread covering ways in which the government is ‘failing’ Yorkshire.

Now Mr Cameron has told the paper he wants it to ‘hold him’ to a pledge to drive forward growth in every region of the country.

Said Peter: “Given the state of the economy, it is more important than ever that regional newspapers stand up for their area and fight for the jobs and prosperity of the future.”

He said the government had often talked about ways to re-balance the economy and tackle the North-South divide but many people and businesses in and around Yorkshire felt the governement’s  approach on key issues would prevent that from happening.

The Post’s campaign calls on the government to look at its approach to issues such as travel and tourism so that the region is not held back from economic recovery in line with the South of England.

In his response David Cameron told the paper that he understood its concerns about the divide.

He wrote: “I have listened to the Yorkshire Post’s concerns, and want to reassure you of this – we are passionately committed to driving growth in every town, city and community in our country.

“Over the coming months and years, I want you to hold me to that.”