Welcome to 'This Is The North' Podcast, your source of transformative conversations. An intentional challenge to the systems holding back the North of England. Hosted by Alison Dunn, an award-winning charity chief executive and former solicitor. This podcast is supported by Society Matters Community Interest Company and is dedicated to curating and sharing knowledge, powering the change we need for a more equal and inclusive society.

In this episode, Alison speaks with Lord Richard Harrington, a distinguished British businessman and politician who was ennobled in 2022 after a successful career spanning four decades. From humble beginnings as the son of a Leeds market stall holder to Oxford scholar, successful entrepreneur, Member of Parliament, and ultimately, a life peer in the House of Lords, Lord Harrington's journey embodies transformation and resilience.

The conversation delves into Lord Harrington's pivotal work on refugee resettlement, where he twice served as minister—first implementing David Cameron's pledge to bring 20,000 Syrian refugees to the UK, and later, at Boris Johnson's urgent request, creating the innovative "Homes for Ukraine" scheme that housed 150,000 Ukrainian refugees. Throughout this work, Lord Harrington balanced humanitarian imperatives with practical challenges, creating systems that protected vulnerable people while addressing legitimate security concerns.

Most recently, Lord Harrington authored a significant review on foreign direct investment for the UK government, identifying critical barriers to investment including policy inconsistency, bureaucratic delays and insufficient regional devolution. His insights on post-Brexit economic challenges, the crucial role of mayoral authorities in regional development and the urgent need for stable industrial strategy offer a compelling vision for economic transformation in the North and beyond.

Episode Timestamps:

00:42 Lord Harrington's Early Life and Career

03:35 Transition from Business to Politics

11:45 First Refugee Resettlement Role with Syrian Refugees

13:29 Return to Refugee Work: Creating "Homes for Ukraine"

24:42 The Foreign Direct Investment Review

33:54 Brexit's Impact

39:06 The Role of Regional Mayors

42:37 Vision for UK's Investment Climate and Industrial Strategy

45:20 Challenges and Barriers to Progress

This episode serves as a powerful reminder that effective economic transformation requires stability, strategic focus and the courage to make difficult decisions. Lord Harrington's journey from Leeds market to the House of Lords demonstrates how personal experience can inform public policy, while his candid assessment of the UK's investment challenges offers a blueprint for meaningful change. By examining both the human impact of refugee policy and the economic imperatives of investment strategy, this conversation bridges the gap between compassion and pragmatism that lies at the heart of effective governance.

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Host: Alison Dunn

Guest: Lord Richard Harrington

This podcast is produced by Purpose Made, empowering change through intentional leadership and shared knowledge.

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