Hull & Humber Chamber tells Michael Gove of backing for Opportunity Humber initiative after Commons dinner

Chamber Vice-President Mike Whitehead (second left) pictured with Humber MPs and other stakeholders at the House of Commons dinner.

HULL and Humber Chamber of Commerce Vice-President, Mike Whitehead attended a Dinner at the House of Commons last night hosted by Hull University Chancellor, Baroness Virginia Bottomley.

The Dinner had been arranged to explore the new arrangements for devolution in the Humber following Michael Gove’s Levelling Up White Paper.

Attendees included Daren Hale and Jonathan Owen, Leaders of both north bank Councils, MPs Dame Diana Johnson, Sir Greg Knight, Graham Stuart and Andrew Percy. Other business leaders as well as the Chamber included representatives from the FSB and CBI.

The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove announced the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper last week and pointedly visited Grimsby and Hull on the launch day and included in his speech proposals for a new pan Humber organisation called “Opportunity Humber” to be Chaired by Reckitts CEO, Laxman Narasimham.

Mike Whitehead said: "This new business led pan Humber body is warmly welcomed by the Chamber and the “County Deal” on offer for the two North Bank Councils is the most pragmatic agreed way forward for local government.”

He went on to point out that nationally The British Chambers of Commerce had now told Mr Gove of Hull and Humber’s support for the Opportunity Humber initiative and it was good to see that many internationally significant Humber-based businesses are involved and that we are delighted that all of them are active Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce members".

All of the MPs and stakeholders at the meeting pledged their support for Opportunity Humber and the “County Deal” proposed for the two north bank Councils.