By Dan Jarvis MPWHEN I talk to people in Barnsley, the word 'devolution' almost never comes up. But what people do ask me is why it feels like we have been forgotten by national government and why so many important decisions are made in London without concern for the needs of our town.
Devolution can provide a mechanism by which we can answer some of these concerns. The powers and funding offered by a good devolution deal could make a real difference to the lives of people living in Yorkshire.
In a post-Brexit world, we need to be ambitious about what our part of the world can achieve if we are given the right tools. The benefits of a good devolution deal are clear and I have always believed that decisions will be better if they are taken closer to the people they affect.
By taking greater control of our transport system, using new planning powers to further regeneration of our towns, and accessing additional funding for our skills and training budget, we can make sure that people in Yorkshire have much more influence over our future direction as a county. But we have to be honest and say that, here in Yorkshire, we have fallen behind our neighbours on this issue and other parts of the country are much further along this path than we are.
The newly elected mayors of Manchester and Liverpool are already establishing themselves as important players in our national debate and the Mayor of London has long been a figure of national and international importance. But we have no equivalent person making the case for Yorkshire.
The delays and roadblocks which have hindered a deal to the Sheffield City Region which includes Barnsley have been frustrating. But I also believe it has given us the opportunity to explore how a different approach might deliver greater benefits. We need to think bigger if we are going to achieve the same level of influence as Greater Manchester, Liverpool, or the West Midlands.
That is why I believe we now need to further explore a One Yorkshire deal. Our region has 5.4 million people, 11 universities and 22 further education colleges, and contributes £110 billion every year to the country's economy.
Yorkshire is a global brand. We have the same population as Scotland and yet we have only a fraction of the power available to the Scottish Parliament. We need to address that. By working together, we will be able to compete with and co-operate with the other devolved areas.
By contrast, only focusing on the big cities in Yorkshire runs the risk that towns like ours will be left behind. There is no doubt that securing agreement between all the local councils in Yorkshire for a devolution deal will be challenging. But it is important to note that most of those councils have already signed up to the principle of a One Yorkshire deal, recognising the potential benefits of this model.
With the right ambition and leadership we can secure a deal which maximises our county's influence and brings real power to our local communities. Our region has a timeless spirit and limitless potential. It is up to political leaders of all parties to work together so that we can harness that potential to its fullest extent. I believe a One Yorkshire devolution deal can help us do that.
