Letter: English regions are being ignored in the Brexit debate
Brexit Secretary David Davis, Chancellor Philip Hammond and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson listen as Prime Minister Theresa May speaks in Florence, Italy. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/PA. - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
The post-referendum debate is centred around the rapatriation of powers to Westminster and London. Tom Parkin says the regions are being ignored.
I live in Evesham, a rural town in Worcestershire that voted by 58% to leave the European Union in June 2016. Evesham's heritage is agricultural, but its economy less so. Like much of the West Midlands, residents are concerned with the state of the labour market, wage stagnation and the future of investment into the hundreds of small businesses that fuel local growth.
For many rural communities, Brexit was not a protest vote or a knee-jerk reaction. Instead, locals genuinely believed that the EU was the source of their financial woes. Even though the town's agricultural sector has only survived thanks to free movement of labour from Europe, the message was clear – locals wanted control for themselves. But here lies the problem.
The post-referendum debate is centred only around the repatriation of powers to Westminster and London. Both sides of the political divide remain silent about the economic effects of Brexit in the regions. We hear talk of protecting the City's financial sector, but nothing about industrial regeneration. There is a political consensus that if London's interests are secured, then the rest of the country will prosper. But empowering Westminster will not empower my town. Protecting London's financial markets will not save small to medium-sized businesses in Worcestershire.
If Britain does leave the EU, then central government must prepare for the most extensive devolution of powers to councils and the regional mayoralties in England and Wales. I am not asking for another 'Northern Powerhouse'. My town needs a plan that works.
You may also want to watch:
Shifting powers from a parliament 350 miles away to another 120 miles away is not a solution. The West Midlands requires effective powers that will enable local government to better protect our vulnerable regional economy in these troubled times.
Tom Parkin, Evesham
Most Read
- 1 The greatest failure of government in our lifetime
- 2 Leave EU website suspended after EU registry blocks move to Ireland
- 3 The bigot we should have called out on day one
- 4 Boris Johnson claims Labour supporters using Universal Credit vote to incite hatred
- 5 Comedian wins praise after shaming No 10 during Dancing on Ice appearance
- 6 Television drama to focus on Boris Johnson's first year in Downing Street
- 7 The polling that signals the plight of the Union
- 8 Dominic Raab 'not convinced' collapse of fishing businesses would be result of Brexit deal
- 9 Brexiteer says he'd never have voted for Brexit 'if we knew we'd lose our jobs'
- 10 Matt Hancock praises free school meals before being reminded he voted against them
• Send your letters for publication to letters@theneweuropean.co.uk
MORE: Subscribe to The New European for six weeks for just £1
MORE: Events - How you can help the grassroots anti-Brexit campaigns
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.