Steps forward on English devolution in Constitutional Reform proposals welcomed

July 4, 2007

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s statement on constitutional reform, Director of New Local Government Network, Chris Leslie, said:

“Devolution in England remains unfinished business, so the introduction of Regional Ministers, Regional Select Committees and a Question Time arrangement for each region will be a major boost for communities in all corners of the country.

“As our two pamphlets proposed in the past year, the answer to the ‘West Lothian Question’ lies in giving a stronger voice to local and national representatives in each English region, providing each part of England with an ability to make decisions over infrastructure investment, with radical improvements in their leadership and accountability.

“There now must be matching reforms to give local government leaders a stronger stake in the management and scrutiny of regional bodies and regional decision-making.”

On the Prime Minister’s moves to devolve power to citizens and communities, Chris Leslie said:

“The proposal for a new concordat between local and national government could be a promising step forward, as long as it tackles the fundamental financial imbalance-of-power which still leaves councils with an unhealthy grant dependency culture. Local and national government must become true partners, rather than ‘big brother and little brother’, with a stronger say in national decision-making, including perhaps through a reformed House of Lords. The new concordat could also extend democratic oversight over other local public services, including to health and criminal justice, in a move that would give wider powers to local residents.”


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