The Core Cities Group has warned communities will not accept ‘half measures’ over devolution in a strongly worded letter to Government.
The group of 10 city leaders have written to William Hague, urging the Government to grant them devolved powers ‘at the same speed’ as Scotland.
Prime minister David Cameron tasked Hague with leading Government efforts on devolution and constitutional change following the Scottish referendum.
The Core Cities Group – including Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield – has recently expanded to include Cardiff and Glasgow, forming Core Cities UK. The collective said devolution had become ‘the most important constitutional political issue facing Parliament’.
‘Our communities, our voters, will not accept delays based on constitutional wrangles, or half measures delivered through political compromise,’ the letter states.
‘They want and deserve action and leadership on this agenda across all three main parties.
‘The devolution we seek will get solutions closer to problems allowing success to be judged by one simple standard: better outcomes.
‘Devolution cannot just be to national parliaments, replacing a centralised Government in Westminster with one in Scotland, Wales or indeed England.
‘An English parliament alone is not the answer. We therefore welcome the prime minister’s statement that Government must “empower our great cities”,’ the letter adds.
