TORY THINK TANK CALL AN INSULT TO NORTH YORKSHIRE LIB DEMS

1.43.14pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 26th Aug 2008

LIBERAL Democrats in Scarborough have described a call by a Conservative-leaning think tank for people from towns and cities of the North to pack their bags and move to the South as appalling.

Policy Exchange, described as David Cameron's favourite think tank in the media, claimed many towns and cities in the North were failing and regeneration would not save them. They suggested people should move to the South East instead. Policy Exchange was set up by Michael Gove, now a senior Conservative MP.

"The idea that people should abandon the North and move to the already crowded South East, where house prices and living costs are sky high, is an insult to people living here," said Tania Exley-Moore, Lib Dem PPC for Scarborough and Whitby.

"I am staggered that a think tank so close to the Conservatives is making such a call. I am appalled that they are saying that large swathes of the North can simply be abandoned. At a time when Scarborough and Whitby are moving ahead with large scale investment taking place it is nonsense to be making such statements. Where is the concern for quality of life?

Here in Scarborough and Whitby the battle is between Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives at the next general election. People should know what the Conservatives really think about the North of England.

What the Policy Exchange has done is to highlight the lack of understanding many Conservatives have of the North".