YP Letters: Disaster for Yorkshire cities to miss out on devolution

LAST week, we witnessed the creation of a new form of local government when six English ‘city regions’ were granted devolved status, together with additional powers, functions and responsibilities. Headed by a metro-mayor, each area will also receive a multi-billion pound cash haul spread over 30 years and the authority to make decisions independently of Westminster.

However, in my view, the new arrangements are only the forerunner of a system which will assume greater significance in the future.

Put simply, those city regions now boasting a metro-mayor will ultimately become cities in their own right in much the same way London has become.

It would be disastrous, therefore, if the Leeds City Region missed the chance to join the ‘Original Six’.

Apparently, however, Leeds – and Sheffield for that matter – still have the opportunity to join the six others within the next two years.

With the undoubted benefits on offer, it is vital, surely, to have a metro-mayor in the aforementioned ‘enlarged’ Yorkshire cities as soon as possible.

Playing catch-up is not an option in this case.