We need devolution

Labour councillor Duncan Enright writes for the Clarion on why he believes a Thames Valley devolution deal is essential.

“Good growth in every postcode. Hope in every heart.” Andy Burnham spells out his vision for Britain under devolution – passing power from Whitehall to the nations and regions. From Stornoway to Southampton, Wakefield to Witney, people know that our state is too centralised, too clunky, too slow to find the solutions to problems our country has faced for many years now.

Our county of Oxfordshire is a delicious mix - from the edge of the Midlands and the Industrial Revolution; to the skirts of London; from the Cotswolds in the west to the Chilterns and Ridgeway to the south and east; we live at the heart of the Nation.

We need to seize this moment to forge our own future, but to do so we need to bring powers and resources back from Whitehall, but that isn’t enough. We need to bring together people from all of the political parties and communities - not point scoring but problem solving, and that’s hard. But the prize is great: our economic and social security and enterprise in our own hands. The current reorganisation of councils into a single tier of unitaries is essential, and must happen as soon as possible.

We also need a strategic authority – slim but purposeful, covering the Thames Valley – to coordinate a wider agenda across unitary councils and strengthen regional economy, skills, public safety, transport and strategic planning. Thames Valley makes sense as an economic area covering Oxfordshire, Swindon, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Together there are 2.5 million people, united by geography and with an annual economic heft of over £130 billion a year. Our world leading universities and companies, towns and cities are a wonderful base for a brighter future.

Together we can contribute to a net zero future, transport of tomorrow, better health and care, advanced manufacturing, and be an engine of good growth that lifts us all and benefits the whole of the UK, every postcode. Let’s encourage our leaders now to grasp this opportunity and give us hope.