What would a genuine plan for levelling up the north of England look like? Ask a German

‘Our decline in the 20th century was not due to any weaknesses of ours but to hostile national policy, particularly on industry and infrastructure.’ Trains outside Manchester Piccadilly station. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Today a minister will wow political and business leaders from across the north of England with his government’s achievements on levelling up. Sadly, I am not talking about a UK minister, although Michael Gove will no doubt be warmly received. I am instead referring to Carsten Schneider, minister for east Germany and equivalent living conditions.

Schneider will tell the Convention of the North in Manchester: “The goal of creating equal living conditions everywhere in Germany can even be found in our constitution. There are good reasons for it. If regions are drifting apart, it is bad for everyone. If a variety of regions flourish, the whole country will prosper.”