Theresa May has taken her Cabinet to the birthplace of the industrial revolution to launch a new strategy for British industry for the 21st century.

The Prime Minister and her ministers met in the northwest of England as the Government pledged to boost economic growth that benefits the whole of the UK.

As well as unveiling a new industrial strategy, the Government also announced £556m for the Northern Powerhouse to help create jobs, support businesses and encourage growth.

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Projects that will benefit include a terminal linking rail, sea and road at Goole, a 21st century conference centre in Blackpool and a new innovation fund for Manchester and Cheshire businesses.


The Cabinet meeting in the North West - where the industrial revolution began with cotton mills, canals and railways - was the first held outside London by Mrs May since she became Prime Minister.

Mrs May and 30 ministers met at a science park and business incubator in Daresbury near Warrington in Cheshire.

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The PM opened the meeting with an address to her ministers on the new strategy.

She said: "This is a very important part of our plan for Britain. This is how we shape a stronger future for the UK and also ensure we are building a fairer Britain and a better Britain.

"And I think it is absolutely right we are launching this strategy, here in the North West, because one of the themes that underpins what we are doing in the industrial strategy and underpins our plan for Britain, is ensuring we drive growth across the whole of the UK, that we ensure that we are building on the strengths of different parts of our economy and different parts of the UK, and that we see prosperity and opportunity spread across the country so everybody has those opportunities to get on in life."

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At the heart of the new strategy are deals for individual sectors and investment in research and development to support industries of the future like electric vehicles and biotech and quantum technologies.

Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark added: "This is an important step in building a modern, dynamic industrial strategy that will improve living standards and drive economic growth across the whole country.

"A modern British industrial strategy must build on the UK's strengths and extend excellence into the future, close the gap between the UK's most productive companies, industries, places and people and the rest; and ensure we are one of the most competitive places in the world to start and grow a business.

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"We are inviting businesses and workers to contribute to this vision to help us create a high-skilled economy where every place can meet its potential."

The Government announced at the weekend that the industrial strategy will include a training revolution for 16 to 24-year-olds, with £170m in investment in new technical colleges.

In a green paper outlining the new strategy, the Government will also promise to improve living standards and economic growth by increasing productivity and driving growth across the whole country.

Shadow business secretary Clive Lewis said: "This belated attempt to develop a proper industrial strategy is a step in the right direction, but once again what the Tories are offering looks like too little too late.

"We await further detail, but what's been announced so far will fall far short of getting us back to where we were in 2010, let alone equip our economy for the challenges of the 21st century."

But Carolyn Fairbairn, the CBI director-general, said: "A modern industrial strategy will be a landmark opportunity to build a successful, modern economy as the foundation for a prosperous, fairer and more inclusive society."