Liberating Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a place of outstanding natural beauty, rich in racial and cultural diversity, and full of untapped human potential. Yet, it has been left behind in many ways, especially since the loss of our traditional skilled industries in the 1980s, which have never been replaced.
We live in a Yorkshire trapped by austerity measures, underperforming schools, little or no job security, zero-hour contracts and poor wages, poor housing conditions, broken pavements, potholes, family breakdown, record child poverty, an overworked national health service, unreliable public transport, debt, alcohol, drugs, gambling addictions and a lack of hope of escape.
This shocking state of affairs is an indictment on successive central Westminster governments, our democratic system and the political class.
We look towards a Yorkshire where people receive the necessary support needed, and no one is left behind or feels left out. Everyone can join in, make friends, and be happy.
Meaningful and trusting relationships exist with family and friends. People feel valued and welcome in their interactions with others, including strangers. Resources are more evenly spread, enabling even the poorest to make choices and build a meaningful life for themselves and their loved ones.
Looking Beyond Devolution
Angela Rayner’s White Paper on English Devolution moves us in the right direction towards achieving these aims. However, Angela’s proposals are just the first stage. Here, we look beyond their passing into law with fresh thinking that will eventually allow our citizens to grasp even greater control of their affairs using these four steps.
1. Establish a regional government that enables Yorkshire to control its internal affairs.
2. Adopt a new kind of democracy, a vibrant democracy that combines deliberative and participative practices with genuinely accountable elected representation, where Yorkshire citizens can become the instigators of change.
3. Move towards a new ecological civilisation that harmonises our social needs with the needs of our natural environment and tackles the pressing issues of climate disruption.
4. Press for an inclusive Society to ensure no one is ever left behind again.
Implementing these 4 steps
The prospect of implementing these 4 is colossal. We must convince the political parties to commit to these steps and the necessary constitutional change, including adopting a separate constitution for Yorkshire in their election manifestos. Our job is to persuade our current politicians of the changes needed through appropriate campaigning and lobbying, including the specifics of constitutional change we believe necessary.
This gigantic task will likely take us well beyond the next general election in 2029. We cannot do it alone. We will need the input of others, including interested individuals, Yorkshire’s Civil Society, and members of the national Democratic Movement.
We are planning a series of online workshops and setting up a blog, which will be launched shortly. This will enable us to engage with and update users regularly. Readers will be encouraged to leave comments or interact in other ways. Please look out for these opportunities – your opinions count.