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Future of the UK Constitution and Devolution — [Yvonne Fovargue in the Chair]
08 March 2023
Lead MP
Bim Afolami
Hitchin and Harpenden
Con
Responding Minister
Alex Burghart
Tags
EconomyLocal Government
Word Count: 12869
Other Contributors: 10
At a Glance
Bim Afolami raised concerns about future of the uk constitution and devolution — [yvonne fovargue in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The MP asks the Government to regularise local government structures in England, establish clear relationships between local leaders and central Government, and consider reforms to the House of Lords that would allow more local leaders to participate ex officio. He also suggests raising more revenue locally for better accountability and economic performance.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The MP is concerned about the strain on the UK's constitutional arrangements, particularly in England where local government structures vary widely. This leads to confusion among residents about who is responsible for what services and hinders economic growth by complicating investment decisions. The inconsistency of local governance systems also affects democratic accountability and regional balance.
Alex Norris
Lab Co-op
Nottingham North
Mr. Norris praised the debate's importance and agreed with the need for greater constitutional coherence, but not necessarily standardisation. He emphasized disagreements within parties are beneficial. He advocated for local leaders to have access to maximum powers and supported diverse local government models while ensuring equal power distribution. Mr. Norris highlighted issues of centralisation and the need for a fairer future with more community control over lives and opportunities.
Suggested that improving representation from other parts of England and the UK in the House of Lords could be a way to address current imbalances, particularly regarding bishops and hereditary peers.
James Grundy
Con
Blackpool North and Cleveleys
James Grundy argued that a mayoral model is not suitable for non-city areas like Cheshire, citing the example of Lancashire where people feel it would be inappropriate to have one mayor representing diverse communities. He also discussed past controversies over devolution such as the creation of large unitary authorities and highlighted local infrastructure issues in his constituency as an illustration of why a mayoral model might not work. Explained the differences in wage structures across England due to varying responsibilities among local authorities, contrasting this with Scotland's uniform system of unitary authorities.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon emphasised the importance of the UK Union and devolution for Northern Ireland, highlighting his family's sacrifices in service to the Union. He advocated for a legal opinion on the Windsor framework agreement to ensure it respects the views of Unionists and does not undermine their position. Shannon stressed the need for Unionist representation at decision-making tables and called for devolution that includes full democratic participation.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
From a Welsh perspective, the Gordon Brown report was extremely unambitious. There is a huge opportunity for Labour to empower the Welsh Government with fiscal levers needed to deal with the Welsh economy.
Justin Madders
Lab
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Mr. Madders advocates for devolution to strengthen democracy, highlighting distrust in the current system where decision-making is centralized. He criticizes the competitive bidding process required for devolution deals as neither fair nor transparent. Emphasizing his constituency's lack of a defined identity and economic activity dispersed across multiple towns and villages, he argues against the need for an elected Mayor for genuine empowerment of local communities.
Kirsty Blackman
SNP
Aberdeen North
Asked for clarification on what regularisation should look like, referencing Scotland's system of unitary authorities and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities for negotiations with the Government. Acknowledged the debate topic and praised her colleague for providing historical context. Highlighted the effectiveness of participatory budgeting in Scotland, where 1% of local authorities' budgets are spent by community members to improve their areas. Discussed improvements made through community asset transfers and the importance of paying councillors a reasonable salary to attract high-calibre leaders.
Mike Amesbury
Lab
Wirral West
Business leaders in Cheshire and Warrington have echoed concerns about the lack of a devolution deal despite making a plea to Ministers.
Robin Millar
Con
Birmingham Selly Oak
Robin Millar argued that the Union is not an idealistic framework to start from but rather a complex reality shaped by history, law, geography, and international relationships. He warned against turning the covenantal relationship between different parts of the UK into a transactional contract through devolution. Asked the Minister about unintended consequences of devolution, specifically mentioning the lack of uptake of tax-raising powers in Wales as an example of unevenness.
Samantha Dixon
Lab
Chester North and Neston
Ms. Dixon's contribution is not detailed in this batch but she is mentioned as a former council leader sitting next to Mr. Madders, supporting the advocacy for genuine devolution and local empowerment. Ms Dixon discussed the potential benefits of devolution for Cheshire and Warrington, highlighting the region's economic base, net zero ambition, and collaborative governance model. She emphasised that a devolved Cheshire and Warrington could further progress its work on transforming transport networks, backing towns and rural communities, creating green jobs, and achieving net zero goals.
Government Response
Alex Burghart
Government Response
Responded to a wide-ranging debate on UK constitution and devolution, acknowledging the history of the United Kingdom's constitutional structures and praising the role of devolution in fostering local representation. Stressed the importance of balancing central government authority with local autonomy and highlighted examples of successful collaboration between central and local authorities to create opportunities for communities. Addressed concerns about standardisation versus variation in devolution models by noting the flexibility provided through different shapes of 'cookie cutters'. Emphasised that section 35 has been used exceptionally rarely, demonstrating respect for the mechanisms of devolution across the UK.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.