Yorkshire rules
THERE will be those who contend that Paul Blomfield did not go far enough when the Sheffield Central MP challenged the Government to move major Whitehall ministries out of London because too many decisions are seen “through the prism of the metropolis”. They would argue that Britain would be far better governed if Parliament moved to Yorkshire and embraced three of this county’s traits – value for money, common sense and hard graft.
Yet Mr Blomfield might be advised to take up the cudgels with his leader Ed Miliband. For, like it or not, it was the last Labour government that centralised power in London – and it is this coalition which is empowering the regions. Yes, moving a Whitehall department to Yorkshire would provide a welcome and significant economic lift – but it would quickly become a token gesture unless the whole Government was to change its entire mindset towards the regions. That is the challenge.