Vocal Voices

No, it is not a spelling mistake.

Some years ago England was supposed to hold referendums regarding regional assemblies. They were another layer of government supposedly giving the regions some autonomy from Westminster. Due to them not being supported only one referendum took place, the North East, and it was roundly defeated.

Move on some 15 years and we now get something called 'One Yorkshire'.

Somebody, somewhere, has decided that it would be good for the whole of Yorkshire to have its own 'Assembly' and 19 of 21 councils support it, as they are allowed to do.

But hang on.

This proposal was not in any national manifesto. Nor was it in any local council manifesto, Nor was it part of any councillor's campaign, so who is driving it? It is certainly not 'the wil of the people' because the people have never been asked. If we are asked it is likely to be turned down. Why? Well because, just like the UK, there are vast differences between the different regions within Yorkshire. Leeds, the likely 'capital' is vastly different from Richmond or Scarborough.

This stupid idea is just another one of politicians doing what is best for them rather than for the people.

Democracy in action it certainly isn't.

Well, Corbyn backs it, and (according to the ITV) Barnsley and Doncaster voters are "overwhelmingly" in favour of it.

You won't get a specific referendum vote on it, (according to the Hull Daily Mail), but there will be a public consultation, and we all know what that means.

And apparently it won't cost the taxpayers one extra penny ......

And while we are on the subject of local government, Dorset has been branded one of the highest council tax chargers in the country. So as they have to keep future rises at county level down to the standard 3% whilst still being totally and irresponsibly profligate in spending, they are happily "devolving" many services and commitments to the local town councils, where there is no statutory limit on what sort of increase they can levy.

Gillingham Town Council has seen a 96% rise in precept over the last five years, apparently. And Salisbury District Council increased their rates by a whopping 69% for 2018/19 alone!

Be very wary of local government ......

TheOstrich wrote:And apparently it won't cost the taxpayers one extra penny ......

Ho ho ho. As if!

Why is it that all "reforms" to our political system result in more jobs for politicians and their hangers on?

WM and I disagree on regionalisation in that I think it was part of an EU agenda and he doesn't. What we both agree on (I think) is that this is the sort of "top down" politics that is no good.

Namely, the politicians say "This is what you're getting. If you don't like it, tough; you'll just have to get used to it".

It stinks. No matter how the TV, politicians and papers big it up, regionalisation is a mini-issue. People are much more interested in jobs, austerity, immigration - just about anything.

Regionalisation was voted down once so this time we won't get a vote.

cromwell wrote:

TheOstrich wrote:And apparently it won't cost the taxpayers one extra penny ......

The operative works is "Yet".

You notice this was done immediately after a large proportion of Labour seats were up for re-election (a larger amount than the Tory seats).

Figures. By the time it comes round to voting again, people will have forgotten why they were so mad.

British politics at its finest! Right in the middle of the sewer.

Suff, it is not new nor Labour, but it has come to the fore with local politicians because of Brexit and fears of more London centricity

Of the 21 councils involved two, Rotherham and Sheffield, both Labour, reject the idea. The remaining 19 are split 7:12. The seven are Labour with five city councils. The 12 are Conservative with one city council, York. So everyone is at it: city and village, Lab, Lib or Con.....

Ossie and Cromwell are right to be suspicious of any public consultation. As Cromwell says, we had one and the idea was given the boot, we are not going to be given the chance again. The mood music is that the deal has already been done between the councils so any consultation will just be a throwaway paperwork exercise.

I stand corrected. Although not about the just after an election. That is when councillors feel most safe.

I have the same suspicions about a public consultation. They own the agenda and drive it their own way..