Ideas: Second chamber elected regionally

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Ideas: Second chamber elected regionally

01.12.2009 // by Guest

This idea comes from Jane in Sheffield:

What's the big idea?:

We should radically reform the second chamber so that it is directly elected on a regional list basis and that articulates regional needs, linking more formally to Regional Select Committees and with nominees from an elected regional body that resides within each English region. This body would replace RDA's, Assemblies and Government Offices and draw into one body those regional agencies and key quangos such as Highways and Environment - thus streamlining decision-making, joining up governance and going some way towards a bonfire of the quangos

Why is this change important to you?:

We still find that Britain is defined too much by what happens in that square mile that is London, and too little by the rest. No one in this country is well-served by the highly centralised, one-size fits all approach to policy making. But there is little appetite for more government just better government.

The very real possibility of abolition of the RDASs ( as proposed by the Tories) brings into sharp relief exactly what measures we have at our disposal to address issues that are sub-national but beyond the ability of local government to resolve ( flood defence, ports, waste and environment, energy and climate change comes to mind.

RDAs have had some success - certainly in Yorkshire - in helping to support and promote our SME's and act as a platform for the region in Europe. What will happen if they are abolished and who makes the case for Yorkshire? And importantly who makes the case for the North?

Governance issues have not gone away just because of the outcome of the North East referendum. We are still highly centralised and often badly served by London. Competing units of government at different levels work - that's why they do it in Europe! And thats why ten years on the success of the Welsh Assembly is now widely acknowledged despite the rocky start. Thats why no one is calling for the abolition of the GLA.

So if it's good enough for London its good enough for Yorkshire. Abolish the quangos, give us some power and let us have the transport spend that London does.