Red Wall Conservative MPs fume with Rishi Sunak for breaking his pledge to create a Cabinet Minister for the North
- One warned that the Northern Research Group could ‘make life difficult’ for PM
- It comes amid fears that Labour could take Red Wall seats at the next election
Red Wall Tories are furious with Rishi Sunak for breaking his vow to MPs in the North.
One warned that the Northern Research Group (NRG), founded by Conservatives, could ‘make life difficult’ for the Prime Minister after he failed to create a dedicated Cabinet Minister for the North.
It comes amid fears that Labour could take many Red Wall seats at the next election.
‘This summer you signed a pledge to us that you would deliver a Minister for the North at Cabinet level,’ the NRG wrote in a letter sent this month and seen by The Mail on Sunday.
‘We are writing to you today asking you to make good on that promise.’
Red Wall Tories are furious with Rishi Sunak for breaking his vow to MPs in the North
It comes amid fears that Labour could take many Red Wall seats at the next election
In his reply, Mr Sunak said he was a northern MP and pointed to Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison’s brief, despite her not being in the Cabinet. He added: ‘I must take this opportunity to congratulate the NRG for the fantastic work you do.’
MPs in the NRG are said to have felt ‘betrayed’ by this.
A Government spokesman said: ‘We are committed to levelling up by spreading opportunity and investment. It’s the responsibility of every minister to ensure that we level up across the country.’
Dan Hodges – Page 45