DEVOLUTION ASPECTS OF WHITE PAPER ARE WEAK AND CONFUSED

The Government’s “Levelling Up” White Paper contains a pledge to “give every part of England that wants it a devolution deal with more regional powers and simplified, long-term funding.” But in terms of what the Conservatives are calling a “devolution revolution,” it is all very confusing.

The associated press release claims that it represents the “biggest shift of power from Whitehall to local leaders in modern times” offering “London-style” powers and a mayor.

The role of London Mayor is associated with a London Assembly, sitting above local councils. The Mayor also has control over the Metropolitan Police.

Yet the White Paper lists Cornwall as one of nine areas which have been invited to “start formal negotiations” for a “county deal.” Such so-called “devolution” arrangements are limited in scope and appear to be accommodations with local council structures. There is no offer of a Cornish Assembly or a Cornish Police Force.

The document also includes a “devolution framework,” which shows that ministers want to see these deals linked to an “elected mayor” or governor, while deals without such individuals in charge would be even weaker.

In addition, the White Paper refers to “trailblazer deeper devolution deals” for “Mayoral Combined Authorities” in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. This suggests that these urban areas will be offered greater powers, but the detail is lacking.

Trying to understand the Government’s approach to the UK’s political geography is also impossible. Yes, the White Paper does mention Cornwall in relation to a “county deal” but, in the section on employment and productivity, it references “every area of the UK” with each of these areas “containing a globally competitive city.” I presume that this is a reference to government regions such as the “South West” one that stretches as far as Bristol! The document also mentions the “Great South West” project, through which some interested parties wish to link Cornwall to the three English counties of Devon, Dorset and Somerset. And the White Paper adds that the Government plans to give more powers to partnerships led by unelected nominees from private sector businesses.

It is a total mess, and I have no confidence that MPs will deliver meaningful devolution to Cornwall.

From my perspective, Cornwall desperately needs a new democratic settlement and that means the Celtic-style devolution that exists in both Scotland and Wales.

Surely 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.

[This is my article in this week's Cornish Guardian].