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Big Issue: Alastair Campbell asks is Stoke-on-Trent in the Midlands or the North?

By PhilCorrigan  |  Posted: November 20, 2015

Alistair Campbell

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The land that's famous for pottery, spitfires and oatcakes should be branded a 'Gateway to the North', according to former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell. Phil Corrigan reports.

STOKE-ON-TRENT officially lies within the West Midlands region of England, and Staffordshire has traditionally been considered a Midlands county.

But with the much vaunted 'Northern Powerhouse' gathering momentum up the M6 in Manchester, there are some who feel the Potteries would be better off looking in that direction, rather than towards Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.

Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell waded into the debate when he suggested, following a three-day residency at Staffordshire University, that Stoke-on-Trent ought to market itself, not as a Midlands city, but as the 'Gateway to the North'.

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Mr Campbell's view appears to be supported by the recent formation of the Northern Gateway Partnership, involving the local enterprise partnerships in Staffordshire and Cheshire, and seven local authorities in the two counties, including Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

This will aim to maximise the impact of HS2 and combine the differing economic strengths of South Cheshire and North Staffordshire.

But at the same time, Stoke-on-Trent has strong links with the rest of Staffordshire through the LEP, and the wider West Midlands region.

Deputy city council leader Abi Brown, who is cabinet member for partnerships, believes one of Stoke-on-Trent's strengths is the fact that it has one foot in the North and another in the Midlands.

She does not think Stoke-on-Trent needs to choose one over the other.

Mrs Brown said: "I think Alastair Campbell raises a valid point but I see no reason why we can't be both in the North and the Midlands. Stoke-on-Trent is located perfectly between Manchester and Birmingham, which I think is our unique selling point. We are the only city between those two conurbations.

"We are working with Cheshire East through the Northern Gateway Partnership, but at the same time we are also working with our partners in Staffordshire. We are involved in a scheme called Midlands Connect which aims to improve transport links across the region.

"I think if you asked people in Stoke-on-Trent if they were in the North or Midlands they would give you different answers. People in the north of the city might identify more with the North, but I think residents in my ward might look more towards Stone. So it could be divisive to say we're one or the other."

While local authorities in and around Birmingham have agreed to form a combined authority next year, they are lagging behind their counterparts in Greater Manchester, who have already signed a devolution deal with the Government.

Tom Simpson, chairman of Sandyford and Goldenhill Residents' Association, in the northern end of the city, believes it might make sense for Stoke-on-Trent to consider itself as Northern.

He said: "It's a difficult question, and there will probably be a lot of differing opinions. I can't speak for other residents but I suppose from the perspective of Goldenhill and Sandyford, we do look more to Manchester and the North because it's quite a bit nearer than Birmingham.

"With all this talk about the Northern Powerhouse, if it means we get more funding for the city; maybe we should class ourselves as part of the North."

Potteries historian Fred Hughes says Stoke-on-Trent has always resisted being drawn towards Manchester or Birmingham.

He believes the resurgence of Stoke-on-Trent's pottery industry means the city can still stand on its own between the two conurbations.

Mr Hughes said: "Back in the 1950s Manchester wanted to use Stoke-on-Trent as an overspill for their council housing, but Stoke-on-Trent turned them down.

"The civic leaders in Manchester always saw Stoke-on-Trent as being part of a greater North West region, but that was resisted here.

"And that's where the idea of Stoke-on-Trent being neither one nor the other came from.

"We are now seeing a revival of the ceramics industry and we are attracting crafts people to the city.

"So from that point of view, I do think that Stoke-on-Trent can still stand out on its own."

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5 comments

  • monty22  |  November 20 2015, 3:26PM

    I'm afraid it doesn't matter.The only things that drives cities forward is vision,imagination and money.Unfortunately,neither Stoke nor its residents have any of these pre-requisits.

    |   5
  • duckegg99  |  November 20 2015, 12:07PM

    Since when have we needed advice from Tony B Liar's right hand man? Keep your nose out.

    |   3
  • bobletbilly  |  November 20 2015, 7:47AM

    Its a pity labour didn't think like this when they were in power. Years of neglect by various political parties including the labour party who are always backed in the area, have left the potteries a gateway to dereliction and nothing else at this time. Thank goodness we have a council in now with the correct ideas and ability to stabilise things for any possible future investment. And a word on Manchester, it would be something of note for the people of stoke to be referred to as gateway to the north. We have stronger and closer ties with the north west than the midlands - most people I know go to Manchester to shop and invest or study, very few travel to the West Midlands. This would make sense - but as with everything else Labour do in Stoke, its pie in the sky.

    |   3
  • Attila  |  November 19 2015, 8:49PM

    Says the man with his sidekick 'Bliar' who led us into a war based on lies and spin that is still ongoing today.....

    |   6
  • beefheart  |  November 19 2015, 8:21PM

    weapons of mass destruction? iraq war? spin doctor?

    |   7

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