What about devolution for the English Regions?
March 20, 2017 1:16 PM
By Cllr John Marriott in Letter to the Guardian
Originally published by South Lincolnshire Liberal Democrats
By Cllr John Marriott in Letter to the Guardian
Originally published by South Lincolnshire Liberal Democrats
Dear Sir, 
With all this talk about devolving more powers to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, please spare a thought for by far the most populous and largest 'nation' in the UK namely England. Isn't it about time that those of us north of Watford and west of Whitchurch got a piece of the action as well?
Let's put the concept of the elected Mayor on the back burner for now. It might work in major conurbations but not in rural areas like mine. Instead, let's explore the necessity firstly of streamlining what currently exists of the emasculated rump of once proud local government by creating unitary councils out of what is still left of County and District Councils and investigate the feasibility of the representatives of unitary councils getting together in regional assemblies.
You don't need more elections. Let those already elected to unitary councils nominate representatives to elect a Leader and Cabinet to run the big things democratically with the detailed local knowledge that no number crunching civil service in Whitehall can possibly possess.
If a proper federalisation of the UK could be achieved then the parliament in Westminster (including an elected Senate) could concentrate on what most federal parliaments do, namely on Foreign Affairs, Defence, Environmental Protection and Economic Strategy. They can leave the rest to us, if they are prepared to trust us to do the job. But hasn't that been the problem?
Yours,
Cllr John Marriott
18 St Hugh's Drive,
North Hykeham,
Lincoln LN6 8RD
Tel: 01522 687965