Consult regions on Brexit talks plea
The region’s politicians have warned of a growing urgency in calls for ministers to consult with English regions during Brexit talks.
Politicians ramped up pressure on Government to ensure local voices will be heard after an appeal by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham,.
YORKSHIRE POLITICIANS have warned of a growing sense of urgency in their calls for ministers to consult with English regions during the Brexit negotiations, as the window for any form of meaningful engagement continues to narrow.
Responding to fresh interventions by the new Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, politicians yesterday ramped up the pressure on Government to guarantee that local voices will be heard.
Their calls come as UK officials prepare for round two of talks with their EU counterparts, with the second meeting due to take place in just over a week.
But despite several indications from ministers that they are willing to meet with local leaders to discuss their Brexit concerns, the Government is yet to spell out any details of its plans.
Mr Burnham was among the first MPs to call for greater engagement with the regions on Brexit, calling on Secretary of State David Davis to establish a special committee back in January.
He has continued to campaign on the issue following his election as a metro mayor, using a speech to the LGA annual conference on Wednesday to attack the Government for overlooking English regions in favour of devolved nations and overseas territories.
His concerns were echoed by the Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake, who has repeatedly called on ministers to meet with regional representatives, pressing Mr Davis for a commitment as recently as April. The Thirsk and Malton MP claims he is confident that a consultation will take place, but expressed apprehension that no dates or further details have been confirmed despite talks in Brussels already being underway.
“Like Andy I think its very important that we get full consultation and have our opportunity to make sure that the regions – particularly the North of course – are properly catered for in any future exit deal and trade deal,” he told
The Yorkshire Post. “We’ve got to make sure the exit deal is fair for the United Kingdom but also for Yorkshire.
“I do have some concerns around [the timeframe] and I will be addressing those to the Secretary of State.
“I think what we’d like to see is regular engagement with ministers and the people responsible for negotiations... then we can track the progress of negotiations to make sure we don’t come back beyond the point of no return.”
Mr Davis has previously alluded to plans to meet with northern mayors to discuss Brexit in York, while the former minister David Jones hinted at a summit of combined authority mayors in the summer. This has led to concerns that Yorkshire will be unrepresented in talks because it currently has no metro mayors.
Responding to the calls, Shadow Brexit minister and Sheffield MP Paul Blomfield said Labour “stands ready” to work with local leaders to deliver on Brexit. “We have been clear that we need a Brexit deal that delivers for all regions and nations of the UK,” he said. “This means things like protecting our universities – which contribute £1.5bn to the Yorkshire and the Humber economy – and making sure the huge sums of EU money our region receives for businesses and infrastructure are replaced once we leave.”
A spokesman for Mr Davis’s department said: “The Government is engaging extensively with regional stakeholders.”
We’ve got to make sure the exit deal is also fair for Yorkshire. Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake, who has pressed for greater regional consultation.