A ‘TREMENDOUS’ jobs boost could be in store for North Yorkshire after it emerged York could be the future home of the House of Lords.

It has been suggested that the Lords could be transferred from Westminster to York, with the Sunday Times reporting that the Prime Minister told officers to start planning the move last week.

Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly confirmed the idea was an option being considered by ministers and this has been welcomed by North Yorkshire County Council leader Carl Les, who said: “I think it is very positive, it could be quite exciting.

“York was one of the ancient capitals in the country going back in time, as was Oxford and Middleham.

“I don’t suppose Middleham would be the right place to move the Lords – that would be overcrowding the town – but certainly if they came to York it would be good news.

“York has very good rail connections to London and Leeds Bradford Airport isn’t very far away. “I think it could work very well.”

Boris Johnson has previously pledged to open up negotiations for a devolution of powers for Yorkshire and Cllr Les said moving the Lords to York ‘fits in nicely’ with that promise.

He added: “To be honest I know very little about the workings of the House of Lords other than there are an awful lot of Peers, but presumably those Peers have support staff and clerks that have to organise the work of the Lords.

“So it could be a major jobs boost and I would think that they are good quality jobs and well paid jobs.

Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton, said that he would support the Lords moving to York for the economic boost it would bring.

He said: “It is fantastic news, it would be great for York and the wider region.

“Lots of my constituents work in York and have business connections to York.

“York also has lots of businesses in the supply chain so it would be tremendous.

“It isn’t just about the Lords themselves; it is about all the connected staff and infrastructure and it would create thousands of jobs for the area - and well paid jobs at that.”

Mr Hollinrake said the move would also show that the government is being serious about creating more jobs and investment in the North.

He added: “A decision like that (moving the Lords to York) would help show the feeling that the North is really important, so it would be massively supported by me.

“I would be very supportive of that and of more generally trying to disperse more jobs from the capital to the wider North region.”