Labour wants regional government for the north of England

A number of Labour MPs from the North of England have raised their concerns about “the growing economic disparities within England as a result of cuts in public services, abolition of the regional development agencies and the coalition-induced recession,” and set out calls for regional government.

This follows the establishment of the Hannah Mitchell Foundation with the core objective to “stimulate debate on the benefits of directly elected regional government for the north

Such a contribution to the growing debate about the inequality between, and the future governance of, the constituent parts of the United Kingdom is to be welcomed. However, it has to be asked why did Labour fail to deliver decent devolution settlements during their thirteen years in power to places such as Cornwall, and the regions of the England.