Lancashire MPs join all-party group

Lancashire MPs have formed an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to co-ordinate activity around issues that impact on the county.

The group, which has now held its first meeting, will consider topics such as the Economic Prosperity Fund, skills, education and training, housing, and Lancashire’s place in the Northern Powerhouse.

Downtown in Business has been appointed as secretariatand David Morris, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, has been elected to chair.

David said: "This is very historic; we’ve not had anything like this before. My personal aim is to ensure that Lancashire gets its fair share of funding. It’s a very good platform to push forward towards the government for what we need to get out of them.

"The economy is a driving factor, we’ve been offered a levelling up process from the government, we’ve got to ensure that does happen. The government are listening to the North of England, but it still takes a little bit of a push to get the money out of the treasury and the relevant departments.”

Coun Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, added: "This is an historic move. It is the first time our MPs have come together in this way and it’s a really positive initiative. It demonstrates the determination that our politicians, from across the political spectrum, have to work in a collaborative fashion to get the very best that we can for Lancashire. I would like to thank Downtown in Business for helping to make it happen."

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