A MINISTER emphasised the Government has 'real commitment' to the north during a visit to Daresbury – and backed under-fire Theresa May.

Baroness Rona Fairhead, minister of state for trade and export promotion, made her way to Sci-Tech Daresbury today, Wednesday, following the launch of the Government's export strategy.

It sets out how the Government will make Britain 'a 21st century exporting superpower' through better use of our overseas network, new online tools and building an extensive business to business network.

Last year, a record high £620 billion worth of goods and services exported by British companies accounted for 30 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

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But the Government’s long-term ambition is to increase total exports, as a proportion of GDP, to 35 per cent.

Ministers believe the plans will help to raise productivity, boost wages and protect employment across the UK.

Speaking at the 'fantastic' national science and innovation campus in Daresbury, Baroness Fairhead stated Warrington can help 'in many ways'.

She said: "We have been talking to businesses up and down the country, we have been talking to the Northern Powerhouse as a unit.

"When I come to somewhere like Daresbury and look at the capability on this site – in terms of med tech, in terms of big data, in terms of what is being done in terms of virtual reality and the technology side – I have quite a lot of confidence that we have the goods and services that the outside wants.

"Firstly, we will be more joined up as a Government so the people of Warrington, who are part of the Northern Powerhouse, can show us that way."

And she dismissed suggestions that the Government favours the south over the north, insisting it is 'absolutely' committed to the north.

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She added: "I am a child of the north – I was born in the north west and grew up in the north east.

"I think there is real commitment because I think there is a sense that, if I look at something like technology and tech city, it started off as very much a London-based cluster, now it is tech nation.

"So, there is much more of a drive to say the whole of the UK needs to benefit from the technology."

Baroness Fairhead also threw her support behind under-fire Prime Minister Mrs May, answering 'yes' when questioned on whether she is the right person to be leading the Conservatives.