New Northern Powerhouse Minister confirmed

According to the previous Chancellor George Osborne, Treasury figures suggested that if the northern economy grew in line with the rest of the UK over the next 18 years, it would be worth an additional £44bn in real terms.

That is the equivalent of over £1,600 for each person living in the north.

The hope is to redress the North-South economic imbalance, and to attract investment into northern cities and towns.

A major part of the deal involves devolution - elected mayors with extra funding to promote economic investment and to make decisions about services such as planning and transport.

Not everyone thinks that the Northern Powerhouse will, or can, provide tangible benefits for the north.

The Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, the MP for Westmoreland and Lonsdale, recently described the Northern Powerhouse as 'smoke and mirrors'.

The government has confirmed that Yorkshire MP Andrew Percy is the new Northern Powerhouse Minister.

Mr Percy, the Conservative MP for Brigg and Goole, takes over from Stockton South MP James Wharton.

Mr Wharton has been given a new job as a minister for International Development, as part of Theresa May's ministerial reshuffle.

Prime Minister Theresa May's final ministerial appointments have left the government without a Northern Powerhouse minister, at least for the time being.

It was announced on Sunday morning that the Stockton South MP James Wharton, who had been the Northern Powerhouse Minister, had been given a new job.

He has been appointed to the post of Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for International Development.

So what does this mean for the future of the Northern Powerhouse project?

The Northern Powerhouse concept was created and promoted by the then-Chancellor George Osborne, who wanted it to promote and facilitate investment and growth in the north of England.

Under a devolution deal, elected regional mayors would receive extra funding for economic investment and services such as transport.

When George Osborne was sacked by the new Prime Minister in last week's cabinet reshuffle, it raised questions about whether the entire project would prosper, or even survive, under the new administration.

Sunday's news that there is, currently, no minister for the Northern Powerhouse raises further questions about its future.

However, the Stockton South MP is confident that the project will go forward, and that a new Northern Powerhouse minister would soon be appointed.

Mr Wharton added that he was "really excited" about his new role in International Development.

“There is an awful lot that has to be done and it’s an opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives.”