Scots power for English Regions

Regardless of the outcome of the Scottish independence referendum the devolution genie has been re-released. Devolution is already a reality for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and even the Channel Islands. Yet tentative steps to offer the same rights to English Regions were snuffed out by the incoming Coalition. Regional Assemblies and Regional Development Agencies (RDA) were closed with no consideration for the consequences. Regional planning bodies, established in 1946 to manage post war reconstruction, went as well. Localism was the slogan, but in reality power and money flowed to Whitehall, where much of it remains unspent. Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) started appearing; some parts of the country are served by more than 1 LEP, others have none. I am exceptionally impressed by the way LEPs have developed, but the most successful ones are those that have merged to re-create the strategic impact that was delivered by the RDAs. The best example being the North East LEP which now covers almost all the territory that used to be managed by One North East RDA. Sheffield City Region LEP covers much of what was once Yorkshire Forward RDA, and have been bold enough to call it an English Region. Years of potential regional growth has been lost, which in part helped to stall the UK's economic recovery. Ed Milliband has committed Labour to giving power back to English Regions. Many Conservatives support genuine English devolution. Lord Helseltine's 2012 report “No Stone Unturned” concluded that the Government should transfer £49bn of public sector industrial investment from central government to the English Regions to help local leaders and businesses. Whatever is left of the UK after the vote, there must be a genuine commitment to re-create English Regions, with directly elected oversight, and genuine local control of regional development money.