The Yorkshire Post Says: Tide turning on devolution as businesses back One Yorkshire vision

Could a devolution deal for Yorkshire now be within the county's grasp?
SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield

There appears, at the very least, to be some greater urgency after 150 business leaders signed an open letter yesterday which warned of reputational damage if the specific impasse in Sheffield and South Yorkshire was not reconciled.

It’s certainly had a galvanising effect, though not the one anticipated by the signatories who were defending their interests in their corner of the county and with good reason. It has seen business bodies come out in favour of the One Yorkshire devolution solution in such numbers that their intervention can’t be ignored.

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The likes of the CBI, Federation of Small Businesses and others represent thousands of companies, and their desire for a leadership structure that incorporates the West, North and East Ridings, at the very least, is very significant.

Like The Yorkshire Post which remains steadfast in its commitment to this approach, they, too, recognise the increased prosperity, possibilities and potential that will be within this region’s grasp if such a structure can be shown to work in the best interests of the whole county, including its industrial and rural heartlands.

This is no longer a fanciful notion that can be dismissed by those Whitehall ministers who only believe in localism on their terms. It is now an increasingly valid option and needs to be pursued with the utmost vigour so Yorkshire does not lose out to those rival regions where metro-mayors are already making

a difference.

With the devolution debate at a turning point thanks to the recent intervention of those business bosses increasingly impatient at the slow pace of political progress, they now need to work with council chiefs and others to finesse a plan that can be put to MPs and their constituents.

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This is critical. Taxpayers and residents won’t stand for more tiers of government; they want better and more effective governance and any plan will only command the support of the public if the lines of responsibility and accountability are clear.

That said, today’s intervention could be the game-changer which will finally enable Yorkshire to start shaping its own future. It’s time to seize the moment.