As Conservative Party members prepare to vote in our new Prime Minister, here's news of another life-changing ballot.

As long as I can remember there has been anxiety about why the north lags behind the south in terms of investment both public and private.

Bridging the north-south divide has been promised repeatedly by politicians of all hues - and today that pledge is known as 'levelling up', though quite how it will be delivered remains a little vague.

Worryingly, new research revealed today by think tank IPPR North shows public spending since levelling up was unveiled - three years ago this week - has risen more in London than anywhere else, with the lowest rises here in the north.

One way of tackling geographical inequality is to encourage the move away from London of important employment centres. 

For example, for more than a decade now, the television industry has seen an exodus of staff away from the capital - and the creation of new local jobs for local people - in places like Salford and Cardiff as the BBC sought to more evenly distribute licence payers' money; while last year Channel 4 opened its new national headquarters in Leeds.

There is no harm in having the HQ of a major organisation in the North-West, which is the reason why Nub News, an expanding network of more than 50 local and hyperlocal news websites, has given its support to Crewe's bid to be the home of the new Great British Railways.

The golden age of Heswall railway station at the beginning of the 20th century - Picture: the Alsop Collection

This new public rail operator will oversee every railway in England, Wales and Scotland, and, who knows, maybe if Crewe emerges as the winner, its proximity will make it easier for the likes of us to lobby for the improved services we need and deserve.

42 towns and cities expressed a desire to be home to GBR, and Crewe made the short list along with Birmingham, Newcastle, Doncaster, York and Derby.

Crewe also happens to be the town where Nub News is opening its own national HQ.

There's a lot going for Crewe's bid - it is, after all, the site of one of the most historic railway stations in the world having opened in 1837, and a place with which most north-south rail travellers are very familiar. 

The public can help influence ministers who will make the final decision by taking part in a public vote, which is open now and closes on August the 15th.

It takes less than a minute - if you feel like backing Crewe, just click or tap here. 

Or the banner at the top of this page.

This is now... Heswall Hills station is not quite as historically significant as Crewe