Devolution – a lame dog?

Wendy Whittaker-Large comments on the devolution

It seems that the addiction to spending tax payer’s money has reached new heights if you analyse the costs of devolution versus the benefits. 

Last week, my husband and I attended a Devolution Dialogue Dinner in Chester, hosted by Chester Business Club. The idea was to win support from the business community for devolution, and have a nice evening having a cosy discussion about how much money could be gained by being a devolved administration. 

I’ve examined the history of devolution and there is overwhelming evidence that it costs far more than is budgeted; it increases regulation and bureaucracy for businesses; it slows down yet further local decision making and ultimately creates an additional layer of unnecessary central planning. 

Nothing is ever cut as a result of devolution. 

There will be more bureaucrats, more technocrats, a larger public sector gravy train, more paperwork, more complicated systems, slower delivery, and more expensive services. 

At the dinner we discussed our concerns with a number of influential people. None of them had looked at the costings or financial analysis. Indeed none of the people actually delivering any of the presentations was able to give a fully costed account or assessment of the benefits versus the outgoings which will be expended to create this behemoth. 

Yet everyone was very polite and clapped each person as they left the stage. 

I was incensed. 

There was a panel made up of a couple of politicians (one Labour and one Conservative) and one council employee, whose full time job is focusing on devolution (and she’ll no doubt get time off in lieu for attending the dinner). 

When asked by the panel moderator “What response from the electorate are you expecting in the mayoral election?” the Conservative leader responded by saying “Unfortunately we’re seeing low turn out in mayoral elections across the country and that’s likely to happen here too”. 

To which I shouted out from the back of the room “That’s because there’s no option to vote NO”! 

The room went silent. A few people muttered and giggled. 

But I made my point – for you, the people of Cheshire East – the silent majority!

“Once in a generation opportunity” – lol!