Maybe it is pertinent to explain to our friends in the South why we in the North are so cynical about the so called trickle down.
We have been sold so many times on how projects in the South benefit the whole country.
We were told that the Olympics would have a legacy for the whole country, I still am waiting 4 years later to see it.
However the Commonwealth games in Manchester was without doubt a fantastic boost to the economy of Greater Manchester, less so outside.
The Tour de France was also a massive boost for Yorkshire and has since spawned the Tour de Yorkshire.
The above two events are world events but where never 'sold' as being beneficial to the whole country to justify them
Lets also evidence the channel tunnel, which we were told in the North would be a wonderful opportunity to get on a train in Manchester through to Paris or Leeds to Brussels. What happened you may ask, after assuring us the benefit was national, as soon as it was built the northern links were cancelled because it was claimed there was no economic benefit.
That my friends is why we are cynical about the massive amounts being spent.