John Healey unveils £150m fund for northern firms in push for growth

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey will give a major speech on the economy (Stefan Rousseau/PA) - (PA Wire)

The Chancellor will unveil a £150 million fund for fast-growing northern firms as he sets out plans to grow the economy through an “active” state.

John Healey will seek to tell an “optimistic story” about Britain in a major speech on Monday, echoing Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s push to strike a more upbeat note than his predecessor.