IF the relocation of 110 civil service jobs from London to York is not worth three cheers, it certainly merits a hearty two.

The move will undoubtedly boost the city's economy. Some of the London workers will move with their jobs, bringing enough spending power to make a difference to York shops, restaurants and services.

Those who choose not to relocate will give up their well-paid jobs to local people. The decision is also a vote of confidence in York.

Soon after it was announced that 20,000 civil service jobs would be redistributed outside London, a Whitehall report suggested that Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Sunderland were the favoured northern locations.

Lobbying by York MP Hugh Bayley and the inward investment agency york-england.com has clearly paid off.

We have kept our third cheer in reserve. While it is good news that 110 London jobs are coming here, the loss of 300 pensions posts, two years after they were relocated to Monks Cross, remains vivid in the memory.

We must hope that today's announcement is the first of many heralding hundreds more permanent jobs for York. That would be good for the city. And, by releasing a little of London's grip on government, it would be good for the country too.

Updated: 11:16 Wednesday, May 11, 2005