Carlisle MP elected chairman of influential committee

The Northern Research Group was founded by Conservative MPs who were elected to represent constituencies in Northern England, Wales and the Scottish Borders during the 2019 general election.

The group was formed to pressurise the government into providing extra investment in the north and to hold the government to account over its levelling up agenda.

Group members represent constituencies that had previously voted Labour for decades but voted Conservative for the first time in 2019 as Boris Johnson swept to a landslide election victory over Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour with his ‘Get Brexit Done’ slogan.

John Stevenson MP was elected to the chairman position after the previous chairman, Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry was appointed chairman of the Conservative Party in Liz Truss’ first cabinet of her premiership.

The group is modelling on the European Research Group, a group of Eurosceptic Tory MPs who scrutinise all legislation relating to the UK exiting the EU and have put pressure on the government to sever as many ties with the EU as possible.

Members of the group include influential Tory backbenchers including North West Durham MP Richard Holden and Barrow in Furness MP Simon Fell.

‘‘I am very proud to be the NRG Chairman, during this crucial period for the north’’ said John Stevenson MP.

‘’I am pleased that the PM signed up to the NRG pledges during the leadership election. Our job now is to assist her and her cabinet in delivering on them, thereby ensuring the best opportunities for everyone across the North of England.’’

‘’Now the leadership election is behind us, we must refocus our efforts on delivering for every region across Britain. As chairman of one of the largest group of MPs in Parliament, I will ensure that the voice of people across the North is heard.’’

John Sevenson MP had previously been a member of the group’s executive committee.

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