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Leeds in Core Cities Cabinet meeting with William Hague to discuss practical devolution

The ten leaders and mayors of Core Cities UK, the ‘Core Cities Cabinet’, have met with William Hague MP, chair of the Cabinet Committee for Devolved Powers, to discuss a plan to drive forward devolution to the UK’s cities.

The Core Cities Cabinet demanded that devolution to the UK’s cities is delivered in the same time frame as Scottish devolution.

This meeting came hours after the Core Cities Cabinet met with Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

The Mayor backed their calls for greater powers to UK cities across borders, avoiding the unnecessary extra bureaucratic layer of an English parliament.

Councillor Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds City Council, and Core Cities UK cabinet member for employment, skills and welfare said: “I’m pleased that after strong and sustained lobbying, our requests for further talks on this hugely important issue have led to today’s meeting.

“Currently around 95% of all finance raised in Leeds and other cities goes directly to national government coffers, with the money coming back having literally thousands of strings attached.

“Now is the time for us to have greater control over how finance is raised and invested locally so we can join up public.

“Our discussions today have shown the increasing awareness and support across the political spectrum for greater devolution of powers away from Whitehall.

“It’s good to talk but what we really need to see is action to back up the words and a clear timetable that will result in Leeds city region and the other core cities releasing their true potential and transforming the lives and opportunities of millions of citizens.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .