YP Letters: Let's have a mayor for all of Yorkshire

From: Alan Goodram, Marsh Lane, Southowram, Halifax.
Labour MP Dan Jarvis.Labour MP Dan Jarvis.
Labour MP Dan Jarvis.

YOUR article (The Yorkshire Post, February 11) quoting Dan Jarvis MP was a useful wake-up call on the devolution debate.

I believe the current offer of package deals plus a mayor for the respective city region areas (no matter how they are defined) may be attractive financially but they are unlikely to garner much popular support – the proposals are effectively to add a layer of local government to manage a fairly narrow range of functions.

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The abolition of the metropolitan counties in 1986 by the then Conservative government was done to avoid duplication and for political reasons; let’s not try to reinvent them.

Exploring a solution that gives some added value to Yorkshire as a whole might have more support. An individual and small support group could advocate our interests as well as negotiating the deals on offer.

Working collectively rather than reinforcing the sub regional divisions that exist – and which would be reinforced by the Government’s model – would only serve to weaken the voice of Yorkshire. That might have some popular support and be in cost terms a least worst solution to the present conundrum.

Northern Powerhouse Minister Andrew Percy is reported to be against this on legal grounds. Is it so impossible? I think it is time the proposal for a Yorkshire-wide elected mayor is given some serious consideration.

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If we must have a mayor, let’s only have one across Yorkshire and ensure there is some added value to the region as a whole.

From: Val Walker-Whilton, Threshfield, near Skipton.

I WAS delighted to read the comments by Dan Jarvis. Yorkshire has been a brand name for decades. My father was doing business with Italy and Norway when we had mills in Batley and Dewsbury – so many families could say the same thing. Now let us use the same “brand” name around the world.

For goodness sake (and Yorkshire’s sake), stop these petty councillors looking to their own agenda and get them to start thinking about the good of our glorious county. They could ruin the lives of millions by just quarrelling amongst themselves.

One Yorkshire mayor with a cabinet made up of city-region leaders. This way both industrial and rural areas could be represented. And both political parties represented.

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From: Philip Moss, former business development director of Sheffield Development Corporation, chief executive of Barnsley City Challenge and visiting fellow (regeneration) of Sheffield Hallam University.

EFFORTS at political devolution seem like digging out an old jigsaw at Christmas, and trying to wedge in some misshapen pieces to replace the missing ones. It won’t thrill the kids.

Most voters have neither understanding, interest nor stomach for the current offerings Dan Jarvis refers to.

In truth, the Sheffield City Region proposal isn’t even a devolution of central 
government powers, more a restructuring of bits of local government. Reference to the terms of agreement shows it contains nothing substantial or exciting.

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There is nothing to say how our children will be better educated, social care improved, recycling increased, energy conserved, children better cared for. Or even how money can be saved or used more efficiently.

What we have is a new committee to oversee the passenger transport executive, something somewhat abstract about youth training and that “all things to all people” David Cameron called economic regeneration.

The Sheffield City Region is a scratch where there is no itch, a solution where the problem hasn’t been defined.

I agree with Dan Jarvis, current solutions will be too parochial.

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Like him, I can see advantages in a bigger picture approach, but doing so without the development resources and a willingness to trim a few local council egos will mean procrastination and cost.

Sack Bercow, lay off Trump

From: Janet Berry, Hambleton.

I THINK Speaker John Bercow should be sacked as he is supposed to be impartial and who is he to speak on morality when you look at the antics of his silly wife and how he exploits his position?

As for the NHS, if I need a doctor when I go to South Africa, I pay £40, plus whatever my medication costs are. This is given to the nurse before my treatment. When my granddaughters need the doctor over here, they pay nothing! This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. It will be a massive undertaking to decide costs, but it can be done and needs to be done.

People should leave Donald Trump alone, he is trying to protect his country as best he can, unlike our government which allows people to fight in Syria and then lets them come back here.

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We voted for Brexit because Germany was the top of the pile again and getting more powerful and immigration was out of control.

As for the refugees, we are full and are not in a position to take any more.

From: John Gladston Wildie, Wakefield.

I FULLY agree with John Bercow on his comments about blocking Donald Trump’s address to Parliament. Veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner, after the Speaker’s statement, summed it up with two words: “Well done.”

From: Phil Moon, Cunliffe Road, Ilkley.

THE Emma Lazarus quote on 
the Statue of Liberty – “Give me your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door” – has now lost all meaning to President Donald Trump.