Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
26
Nov
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP describes mayors as ‘glorified lobbyists’ in Yorkshire devolution speech
Harrogate and Knaresborough’s MP has described mayors as “glorified lobbyists” in a speech calling for wider Yorkshire devolution.
Tom Gordon told the House of Commons that splitting Yorkshire into four separate areas with four mayors had created division and inefficiency.
He added that the region has almost the population of Scotland and the economy of Wales, but does not have “anywhere near” the level of powers.
In his speech, Mr Gordon criticised the current Labour Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, and called for “real regional form of governance” for the whole of Yorkshire.
David Skaith (left) and Tracy Brabin.
He also took a swipe at Tracy Brabin, Labour Mayor for West Yorkshire, who he said had failed to deliver a franchised bus network despite winning two elections.
He said:
Currently, the mayoral arrangements we see across the area are quite disparate and vary widely.
We’ve had a Labour mayor in West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, who has been elected twice on a promise of delivering franchising buses which has still yet to happen. We’ve recently got a new mayor for York and North Yorkshire as well, which is yet to see any real meaningful investment down on the ground for local people.
What I don’t want to see is mayors who are empowered to be glorified lobbyists in this place or in Westminster on Whitehall. I want to see a real regional form of governance that empowers people on the ground.
Mr Gordon, who was speaking on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill on Monday (November 24), put forward an amendment to create a single Yorkshire body powers over health, transport and education.
However, the amendment did not pass.
After his speech, Mr Gordon said in a statement that he would continue to push for a single Yorkshire devolved body.
He said:
The current fragmented model with four separate mayors, creates division and inefficiency. We need a united Yorkshire with the powers to become the economic powerhouse we know it can be. I will keep fighting until our region gets the power it deserves.
0