Yorkshire Day Statement

The One Yorkshire Committee has been created to campaign for the One Yorkshire Devolution Agreement proposed by council leaders of all parties from across the County (the Yorkshire Leaders’ Board). This would involve the election of a Mayor for Yorkshire supported by a cabinet of council leaders. The Committee brings together business, trade union, academic and political leaders and has now met seven times. The Committee has received a grant of £32,500 from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Ltd to support its work and is launching a website today.

The lack of progress on Devolution is hurting the people of Yorkshire. The economic case presented to ministers shows that One Yorkshire devolution would result in a £30 Billion boost to our economy – up to £5,400 extra growth per person, per year in the Yorkshire economy. Yorkshire’s potential can be achieved through building on the ‘Yorkshire’ brand, increasing inward investment, promoting exports, and improving transport and skills. However, this will only happen if we take back more control of our destiny from Whitehall and with the Brexit debate ongoing this has never been more urgent or important.

One year on from the launch of One Yorkshire initital progress has been made. Following the meeting in March between former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government James Brokenshire and Yorkshire Council Leaders at Fountains Abbey, discussions have continued at an official level with senior civil servants. The current devolution deal in the Leeds City Region ends within the coming months. The Government has emphasised that it wants to see the South Yorkshire Mayoralty assume new powers and funding, and in the parts of Yorkshire not covered by devolution deals – including Hull, East Yorkshire and parts of North Yorkshire – there is a feeling of missing out.

All sides need to demonstrate a greater sense of urgency in dealing with One Yorkshire Devolution. It is only through collaboration, compromise and a clear agreed plan that the we will end the current deadlock and help unlock the potential of our great county. The One Yorkshire Committee has been formed to make that happen.

We welcome the words of Mr Brokenshire who recently wrote to South Yorkshire Council Leaders:

“In Principle, if you and all your councils now consent, we are prepared to implement the deal with an understanding that after 2022 those councils that do not see their future in the City Region should be free to join an alternative wider Yorkshire devolution group”

A series of interim funding deals for the different areas of the County all lasting until April 2022 negotiated on the way to One Yorkshire is the obvious way forward. These all would end at the same time to allow for the possibility of an election for a One Yorkshire Mayor at the local elections in May 2022. The Mayor of South Yorkshire would assume his powers up until 2022 but no other Mayors would be elected in the county before that date.

On October 8th a wide-ranging delegation from Yorkshire led by the Archbishop of York will travel to London to meet with the various political parties, seeking a commitment in future manifestos to the election of a One Yorkshire Mayor in May 2022.

The Archbishop has agreed to act as convenor of the campaign and said the following:

“Talk of One Yorkshire is a conversation that needs to happen – for the benefit of all the people of God’s own county! Many Peoples, Boroughs, Councils and Counties, but One Yorkshire working together towards a strong, prosperous, diverse, creative and open Yorkshire. A place of shared opportunity. I simply want to act as convenor, to make sure the necessary dialogue happens, for the sake of the common good. Let us listen, and let us speak.”

John Grogan MP

The Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate

Co-chairs, The One Yorkshire Committee