Mebyon Kernow has described the new ‘Levelling Up’ White Paper, launched by the UK Government on 2nd February, as a great disappointment for Cornwall.
In a statement issued today, the leader of the Party for Cornwall has described the proposals in the document as “completely inadequate to properly tackle the regional inequality that plagues the United Kingdom.”
The statement from Cllr Dick Cole was as follows:
“There is much rhetoric from the UK Government about ‘levelling up’ but the proposals in the document are completely inadequate to properly tackle the regional inequality that plagues the United Kingdom. The White Paper contained little new money. It largely listed existing projects and initiatives, while re-stating previous funding announcements.
“It is good that the Government has re-affirmed its pledge to match the EU structural fund receipts in future funding for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, while the principal new announcement is that Cornwall will be an Education Investment Area.
“But the extent of resource to undo decades and decades of over-centralisation, plus uneven regional spending, is simply not there. And the Government statement that it will do nothing to slow the over-heating economy of London and the South-East, completely undermines its levelling up claims.
It is a great disappointment for Cornwall.”
The UK Government also claims that the White Paper will roll out the, “largest devolution of power from Whitehall to local leaders across England in modern times.”
The White Paper also lists Cornwall as one of nine areas which have been invited to “start formal negotiations” for a ‘county deal’. But such so-called ‘devolution’ arrangements are limited in scope and would need to be closely linked to local council structures. The document also includes a ‘devolution framework’ which shows that Government ministers have a strong preference for elected mayors. But the document also refers to “trailblazer deeper devolution deals” for some larger urban areas, though the detail is extremely lacking.
In addition, the document shows that the Government plans to give more powers to partnerships led by unelected nominees from private sector businesses. It specifically mentions the Great South West, which links Cornwall to the three English counties of Devon, Dorset and Somerset. Many people are rightly worried that some interests will argue that there should be a Mayoral Combined Authority for such an amorphous SW construct.
Cllr Dick Cole added:
“Cornwall desperately needs a meaningful devolution deal and, from MK’s perspective, that means the Celtic-style devolution that exists in both Scotland and Wales. The proposals in the White Paper for ‘county deal’ accommodations with local government are insufficient for Cornwall. They lack ambition and do not reflect our distinct constitutional position.
“Now is the time for one and all in Cornwall to come together to build a campaign for the formal government recognition of Cornwall as one of the historic nations of the United Kingdom, represented by our own National Assembly or Parliament.”
References:
Levelling Up Executive Summary – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1052046/Executive_Summary.pdf