Making the case for Yorkshire devolution

OVER 100 pages of reasons why Yorkshire devolution should happen as soon as possible have been submitted to Government – backed by Kirklees Council.

The plan to give the county more power over its economic affairs and transport priorities has been in the making for almost five years now.

While Manchester snapped up its devolution deal in 2014, politicians in Yorkshire have struggled to get their way with those holding the purse strings in Whitehall.

A plan to devolve power to just the West Yorkshire area fell by the wayside two years ago amid claims of “gerrymandering” by North Yorkshire Conservative MPs.

Now, an independent study showing why the broader ‘One Yorkshire’ proposal will work has been lodged with decision makers in London in a bid to get the process off the ground.

If they agree, the people of Yorkshire would be asked to elect a mayor at some point in 2020.

The One Yorkshire plan has been backed by 18 councils, including Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford, Wakefield and Leeds.

What will bring?

Ensure that the decisions which affect Yorkshire are made in Yorkshire not in London - for instance spending on new public transport and rail.

Create more investment in the areas that would make the biggest difference to Yorkshire’s economy - for example Huddersfield has strengths in textiles and precision manufacturing with companies such as Cummins Turbo Technologies and David Brown’s. Solving the region’s transport issues will also boost productivity lost by workers stuck in traffic or on delayed trains.

Enable Yorkshire to play its full part in the UK’s post-Brexit economic success. The region would have control of money and decisions, allowing it to deal directly with trading partners overseas.

A £3.75billion investment fund over 30 years to boost Yorkshire’s economy