Paper which led campaign for regional assembly backs new devolution deal
A daily newspaper which has long campaigned for devolution has called new plans to hand more powers over to local control as ‘no silver bullet, but a good start.’
The Journal in Newcastle lobbied hard in the 2000s for a ‘yes’ vote when the then Labour government offered regional assemblies as a way of devolving power from Westminster.
However, the region failed to back the plan in a referendum — and along with other parts of the UK, the region has faced multiple battles to better control its destiny since.
On Wednesday, in a break with the traditional convention that the Christmas period is supposed to be a quiet time for political announcements, the Government agreed to a £4.2bn devolution deal for councils in parts of the North East.
The Journal told readers that the deal would see a new mayor elected to serve 2million people in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham. A proposed North East Mayoral Combined Authority would be given a £1.4bn investment fund to be delivered over 30 years, control of £530m to improve rail services in the next four years, and millions more for regeneration projects.
Local leaders would also get to run bus services if they wanted, and also have control over the £60m a year spent on adult education.
In a leader published on the day of the announcement, the Journal said: “If you want an illustration of how frustratingly centralised the UK can be, take a look at the state of the Tyne Bridge, one of the great symbols of our region.
“For years on end, the bridge was allowed to rust and decay while various funding applications sat like begging letters in different government departments. That funding was agreed eventually, but only after years of campaigning.
“This is just one example of how this region has had to ask London’s permission for the most basic of things. Hopefully no more.
“We live in a part of the country with so much going for it: dynamic cities, wonderful countryside and friendly people. But we also have scandalous rates of child poverty, some of the highest unemployment in the UK and some of the country’s lowest educational and health outcomes.
“And therein lies the challenges for our politicians: making the most of what is special in the North East but being ruthlessly focused on where we fall short. Devolution allows us to starting making those choices for ourselves.
“The proposed deal will hand local politicians greater powers over some of the issues where they can make a real difference. In an ideal world, more powers would follow, as they have in other areas.”
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