When the Secretary of State has to sign-off a Bridlington cycle path… You know that a Yorkshire Parliament is required
Over these last few years, we have tracked the rise of Northern English city and regional demands for self-government. One of those players is The Yorkshire Party, who now have councillors as representatives across the region.
This is a fascinating interview with Cllr Andrew Walker, of Bridlington South, which lays out the day-to-day agenda of a Yorkshire regionalist.
More below, but we couldn’t help beginning with this extraordinary local story from Andrew:
A cycle path in Bridlington needed to have sharp corners made smoother - to make it safer and more realistic. But planned changes had to be signed-off by the Secretary of State (honestly). His departmental people administered the change and sent the drawings back.
The point is that all those people involved spent their salaries in London and not in Yorkshire. We would achieve significant efficiency savings while moving decisions closer to the people most affected by them. I certainly don’t want independence but I do want a stronger Yorkshire in a fairer UK.
Andy gives a very clear summary of what a devolved Yorkshire assembly/parliament would do:
The prize is to have decisions about Yorkshire made in Yorkshire - that is what a Yorkshire Regional Parliament will bring. The people making those decisions should be elected by and accountable to the people of Yorkshire - and the decisions need to be transparent.
England is by far the most centralised of western democracies and it has become ever-more stifled by a disinterested administration entirely centred on Westminster. Spending per Yorkshire person by Westminster is much less than per London person in absolutely vital areas like education and transport.
Central government repeatedly offers rail-electrification but cancels the projects just before they begin - while public transport investment races ahead in the South East.
Recall the daily queues on platforms when the rail timetables were modified. People simply could not get to work - and that also restricts the education choices, where courses are too far away for students to join.
The same is true for environmental and commercial investments - we are constantly held back, waiting for the 'sign-off' from Westminster - which may never come.
A huge benefit of a Regional Parliament would be the closer involvement of electors. Currently many people feel that decisions are 'done to them', that they have had no part in the policies or the deliberation, that they are removed from political engagement
But a Yorkshire Parliament, structured to listen and unafraid to engage with really successful resources like Citizens Assemblies, can provide electors with a real stake in the future.