Power, War, Poverty
Does Trump hate the Northern Powerhouse?
It's the Easter school holidays next week and the week after, so I'm taking a break from writing the newsletter.
Never fear, however, as I've got a couple of able stand-ins lined up.
First up is , who writes the Substack. Jess is a freelance digital content creator, who has previously worked in social media for a number of popular podcasts and on Labour’s General Election campaign.
Although she now lives in London, Jess grew up in the North and went to university in the North East.
Her guest newsletter next week will take a look at how different life is in the North compared to the capital, and in particular how transport shapes that experience.
Sounds great, doesn't it? This week you'll have to make do with me though.
I was at a session organised by the CIPR this week, looking at hidden stakeholders and power-brokers across the North East.
I’m a firm believer in industry and professional bodies, so much so that I’m in two - the CIPR and the CIM. I’m not especially active in either, and even less active in my trade union the NUJ.
But, they are all important and when I set out to work by myself I wanted to make sure I was part of them to feel (at least in theory) part of a community, while signalling a bit of professional credibility. The CIPR membership also got me good rates on insurances and meant I could get my hands on some useful template contracts, so that’s a win.
The session last week got me thinking about layers of networks and how those work, especially for those of us who are in the potentially lonely world of self-employment.
I’d say I’m a proper part of a few fairly disparate networks.
I’m in the North East policy world - which is a lovely mix of public sector, third sector, academics and consultants like me. Typically very well-meaning and motivated people, driven by their values. Big on collaboration and idea sharing where they can, but sometimes a little constrained by the structures they operate in.
I’m also in some creative sector networks - the one around Pattern being the most obvious. That’s a lovely set of freelancers, agencies and trailblazers all trying to do interesting things. Ideas seem to just happen in there, and people seem to enjoy exploring them together and bringing each other into projects where they can.
I’ve also got my own network of sorts in all you lot who loyally read this newsletter, send me interesting things and turn up whenever I occasionally do things in person.
I really, really value all of that, so thank you.
One of the challenges of the CIPR session was getting down below those people we knew we knew, down to those we knew we didn’t know…as in, those beyond the LinkedIn connections, the advisory boards or the networking events who were nevertheless making a huge difference in communities across the North East.
I think we’re all guilty of calling on those we know, rather than trying to find a fresh voice, or the most impactful one. I know when I put things together - events or written work or whatever - I can fall back on people I know well, who I know will do me a favour or give me something to spec.
Actually the unexpected is the more interesting thing, and where the best ideas come from.
Something for us to try to consider.
Trade, War, huh?
The big news this week is Trump's tariffs and the trade war we find ourselves unwilling foot soldiers in.
An unexpected benefit to the UK's diminished economic standing in recent years is the mere 10% tariffs we've received.
We are simply not a threat.
The expectation is that it will cut £22bn off exports to the US, and the Centre for Local Economic Strategies have assessed the impact on the UK regions.
The North East is a small exporter by value to the US, so comes off comparatively well - about £80 million down. Well under half the impact on the North West, and the lowest of the English regions.
As CLES note, the interesting thing about this is how insulated London is.
London’s main export is financial services, which it trades to a global marketplace.
In most of the rest of the country we trade actual stuff, so we're more susceptible to trade barriers.
CLES estimate London will lose trade to the US worth £25 per person, while the North East will lose £29 per person, and the UK average will be £32.
Apparently Donald Trump hates the Northern Powerhouse.
13% of NE children in families hit by two child policy
70,000 children in the North East are in families impacted by the two child policy, which is eight years old this month.
The policy means those families with three or more children do not benefit from Universal Credit entitlement behind the first two children.
The analysis which has uncovered the 70,000 figure is from the End Child Poverty Coalition, and also highlights the link between the areas impacted by the policy and those which experience the worst child poverty.
The press release is here, with the North East Child Poverty Commission joined by Love, Amelia and the Hartlepool Baby Bank in commenting.
The make the important point that lifting the limit would also put money into the areas which needs it the most - an extra £90m a year across the North East as a whole.
Working with me
It's the Easter school holidays next week, but let's book a coffee in for the start of May.
If you're up for that, reach out on arlen@arlenpettitt.co.uk.
I'm off next week, keep an eye out for a newsletter from Jess next Wednesday morning.