So what's the big battleground likely to be at the next election, above stopping the boats and even the NHS? It's the economy stupid, in the immortal words of Bill Clinton.

Sky-high inflation rates mean our money's not going as far as it used to as wage increases are outstripped by rising prices and we're all having to cut back, with many families in the North now really struggling.

But is there an end in sight now for the UK's economic pain - and will people living in the North see the same kind of recovery as those in London and the South East? As a wider point, are the efforts by the Government to level up and tackle regional inequalities having any impact on the economic prospects of towns, cities and villages in our region?

We've got a great expert guest to answer those questions and more in the shape of Simon French, the chief economist of Panmure Gordon, an investment bank with a big office in Leeds.

And Rob Parsons speaks to Charlotte Nichols, Labour MP for Warrington South, about her tumultuous time in Parliament so far, battling post-traumatic stress disorder and why being a politician at Westminster is like no other job.

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Don't forget you can now watch the best interviews from The Northern Agenda podcast on YouTube - check out our playlist at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzE0rXt9oGq2nfc3VHw-Pzx1tttiLpP6z

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The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.

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