Plans to introduce legislation to provide for the devolution of powers to a number of major cities in North England was included in the Queen’s Speech. This needs further public debate and consultation.
In Greater Manchester, the proposal was to give them more central government funding only if they agreed to a single mayor, so that the Mayor would have more power over transport, planning, policing and health.
When power was devolved to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, it was done after considerable research. They all now have their own regional parliaments.
England is neatly divided into five unique and quite different regions: London, The West Country, The South East and East Anglia, The Midlands and The North. Why not consider giving them regional Assemblies similar to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales parliaments? Re-visit the idea of Regional Development Authorities on a bigger scale?
The problems are many and the issues can be different in different regions. The idea of City Mayor for a handful of major cities may not be the right answer to empower local people to solve local problems themselves in a wider community sense. It may also not be democratic.
Even central government ministries could be reorganised along these lines.
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