Vital that county lines victims get help says The Children's Society

JAMES Simmonds Read, National Programme Manager at The Children's Society's Prevention programme, said:- "Bringing down the criminals who cynically exploit vulnerable children through these county lines operations is crucial. But it's equally important that the children they have groomed, who may have been deeply traumatised by horrific violence, threats, and sexual abuse, are recognised as victims. Too often, these young people do not get the support they need, or are seen as having chosen to get involved in crime when they were manipulated and coerced. It is vital these children are protected from abuse rather than prosecuted and professionals must also get better at identifying children who may be at risk of exploitation sooner and offering timely help. We want to see the Government define child criminal exploitation in law and adopt a new national strategy to tackle the issue. This strategy should focus upon ending the postcode lottery when it comes to identifying and supporting young people who are exploited, alongside efforts to disrupt the criminals who have groomed them. Spotting the signs that a child could be at risk isn't just a matter for professionals. That's why we launched our Look Closer campaign alongside the National Police Chiefs Council and British Transport Police during this week of action. We're urging staff who work in the service sector including in:- hotels, shops and in public transport to spot the signs a child may be being exploited and to report concerns to the Police."

"WHEN the Convention of the North with the NP11 gathered in Rotherham just over a year ago, no one could have foreseen the choppy waters that awaited us in 2020. The events of the 2019, and the continued economic fall out of dealing with Covid19, have highlighted more than ever the importance of unlocking the North's full potential as we look to play our part in the nation's recovery. The Anniversary of the Convention has provided us with an opportunity to reflect on developments since that time, as well as to note those areas that need further attention.

In his keynote speech to the convention in 2019, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, reaffirmed his commitment to devolution by outlining his Government's levelling up agenda, and a commitment to the creation of a Northern Powerhouse Growth Body. Both of these initiatives still present a major opportunity for the North which, if delivered as we envision, would provide us with the political and economic levers to unlock the full potential of the Region.

The Covid19 pandemic has paradoxically shifted this national focus on rebalancing the UK's over centralised economy while also re-emphasising the importance for the Government to work closely with places like the North to put in local solutions and provisions that will deliver meaningful devolution. The North has disproportionally been impacted by the pandemic, suffering an estimated 20.7% decline in GVA between 2019 and Q2 2020. Around 2 million of the Region's workforce remain on furlough. Despite these statistics, the North is well positioned to lead the nation's recovery and bolster its prosperity over the coming years and decades, but in order to achieve this, the North needs more tools, resources and power to drive forward its potential in areas such as clean growth, trade and investment, and innovation.

The economic recovery from the Covid19 pandemic will provide a renewed focus on clean growth and renewable energy. A recent YouGov survey found that members of the public support Government action to simultaneously grow the economy and protect the environment, without one coming at an advantage over another. This will be a green recovery and 1 that the North, as an energy powerhouse, is well placed to take a lead on. Throughout the North, communities stand ready and willing to help propel the Government towards our national ambition of being carbon neutral by 2050. Reaching this target is not only environmentally important, but also economically vital to the Government's levelling up agenda. For example, a 50% reduction in carbon levels by 2032 would create in the Region of 100,000 new jobs and add ₤2bn per annum to the Northern economy by 2050.

The North has a proud history in contributing to the energy needs of the nation and continues to do so today by generating over 40% of the UK's electricity. In partnership with Government, we can secure this legacy by pioneering initiatives to cement our position as the primary zero carbon energy provider for the UK. Targeted Government investment would enable the North to lead the transition to a net-zero-carbon economy, by investing in renewable energy, innovating in decarbonising industry, and building homes to the highest standards.

Our drive towards clean growth is not only built upon our ambitious targets and existing energy infrastructure, but is also made possible by our expertise in innovation. Historically, failures to adequately invest in Northern Research and Development have been partly responsible for the disparity in Regional growth in the UK. 2019's Convention of the North resolved to prioritise innovation investment by identifying opportunities to boost R&D spending, scale up innovation projects and provide a platform to share information between sectors, partners and Universities. Rebalancing the economy is not a 1 off event or initiative, it will need to be a sustained process over many years.

As the nation contemplates economic recovery in a post Covid19 world, we will be simultaneously embarking on a post Brexit era. The North will be a crucial player in any future trade arrangements, but is currently being underutilised with exports accounting for only 24% of Northern Powerhouse GDP, compared to the UK average of 30%. Analysis from our Trade and Investment Proposition shows the potential for an additional ₤53bn; ₤61bn of GVA and 15,000 jobs per annum created or safeguarded through inward investment by 2030.

The Northern Powerhouse brand is already world renowned for its economic strengths in high value, high tech industries. As well as for being the home of some of the world's leading sports clubs. In partnership with the Government, we can work to cultivate this brand and play to our strengths to significantly boost the nation's trade and investment, which in turn, would create long term opportunities to rebalance the nation's economy.

1 year ago, over 1,000 people from across our Region's Cities, towns, and rural areas, came together in in the Magna Centre in Rotherham and committed to one overarching objective: powering up the North. The rescue measures that the Chancellor recently announced for the Winter Economy Plan are very welcome. However, for the longer term, building the recovery from the Covid19 pandemic, and establishing economic resilience, is a critical moment for the UK. We face either risking exacerbating existing geographic divides in productivity and output, at huge ongoing cost to the UK economy and communities; or the opportunity to build back better by levelling up.

As we look to rebuild our fragile economy from the Covid19 fall out, it is imperative that the Government presses ahead with its levelling up agenda to provide us with the economic and political instruments which would allow the North to reach its full potential. These powers would not only be beneficial to Northern families, communities, and businesses, but would simultaneously strengthen the entire nation."  Co-signed by Roger Marsh OBE DL, Chair of the NP11 and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership and Cllr Nick Forbes, Leader of Newcastle City Council and Chair of the Convention of the North.

RESPONDING to the news that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has extended the VAT cut from 20% to 5% for tourism businesses until 31 March 2020, CLA President Mark Bridgeman said:- "The CLA has been lobbying intensively for the VAT cut; from 20% to 5%; to be made permanent by Government. This extension will help the sector's recovery from the 1st wave, and help weather the storm of the second. But for UK tourism to succeed in the long term, we will need to ensure we are competitive with other holiday hotspots such as France, Spain and Greece; all of whom charge far lower than the UK standard of 20% VAT. Although the peak trade season is over, we want to be clear to the public that rural tourism businesses have gone to great lengths to become Covid safe, and continue to work hard to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday. The CLA has published a dedicated advisory and information page on the Coronavirus at:- CLA.Org.UK."

RSPCA urges people in Merseyside to lobby local MPs to act now to save animal welfare post Brexit Charity calls on people there to pressure their local MP to vote to ban lower standard imports, ahead of crunch vote in Commons, on 1 October 2020.  The RSPCA is urging people in Merseyside to lobby their MPs to vote to ban lower welfare imports when the Agriculture Bill returns to the Commons, on Thursday, 1 October 2020.

On 22 September 2020, the Lords voted through a crucial amendment to the Agriculture Bill to ban imports of products produced to a lower welfare standard than the UK by a margin of around 100. But as the Bill returns to the Commons, a failure by MPs to support it will leave the UK facing a flood of imports such as chlorinated chicken, eggs from hens kept in barren battery cages, pork from pigs reared in sow stalls and hormone beef - products made to welfare standards that are illegal in the UK.

The Government made a manifesto promise to stop lower standard imports when the UK leaves the EU, but they have failed to enshrine this promise in law. 74% of people in the North West want lower standard imports to be banned post Brexit. RSPCA Chief Executive Chris Sherwood said:- "The Government must now honour its manifesto promise and back this amendment. If it doesn't, MPs must vote with their conscience and reflect the strong feelings of the public. It's a choice between protecting the UK's globally recognised high farm animal welfare standards or allowing in products like chlorinated chicken and hormone beef from abroad. We are pleased that the Lords have voted for a law to stop imports of food produced to lower farm animal welfare standards but now that the Agriculture Bill returns to the Commons, we urge MPs to seriously consider what's at stake here. Unless MPs also agree to enshrine in law what was promised in the Conservative manifesto, a no-deal would mean the UK faces a flood of imported food that is illegal in the UK. With a no deal looking increasingly likely, and the Government desperate to sign trade deals, failure to act now could result in a catastrophic weakening of the hard won protections for millions of animals in this country and could risk setting back animal welfare for many years ahead. It would also threaten UK farmers' livelihoods as they would be at risk of being undercut by imports produced to much lower welfare methods than are allowed in the UK. Research shows that 83% of people do not want to see imports of food from abroad that are produced to lower standards and tens of thousands of people have signed our petition pressing the Government to introduce a law to that effect. We need MPs to realise how strongly the public feels about this issue and are urging people to contact their local MP to pressure them to support this law to stop lower welfare imports coming into the UK."

For more details on how to protect farm animal welfare and help on how to contact your MP, please visit the RSPCA's webpage. To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing animals in desperate need of care please visit the RSPCA website or call the donation line on:- 03001238181.