I spoke yesterday in the House of Lords Chamber on the Government’s proposals to devolve responsibilities and some funding to combinations of local Councils. In West Yorkshire this means to the Combined Authority of Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield with the City of York as well.
The proposals are for these Councils to work together in a united way to invest in better transport, encourage inward investment, and improve local skills.
All that is to be applauded.
The Government, though, are insisting that the price for getting these powers is to have an elected so-called Metro Mayor. As I, and many other Peers, pointed out this arrangement could well lead to a single political Party controlling millions of £s of public spending.
I made a strong plea for a bolder approach which would include local councils, in combination or on their own, to have far greater control over investment decisions that are currently made in London. If Scotland with 5 million people can have so much responsibility, then so can Yorkshire which has an equivalent population and an equally strong sense of identity.

To read my full speech as recorded by Hansard click on
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201516/ldhansrd/text/150608-0002.htm