From the editor’s desk: Are we really in this together?
“We must act as one.” “We need a regional figurehead.” “No-one knows where the East Midlands is.” “We need to compete with Birmingham and Manchester.”
For what seems like forever I’ve heard these statements thrown out at events and during meetings. The sentiments are admirable if the East Midlands is to attract the kind of inward investment the likes of Birmingham and especially Manchester have seen over the last decade. And yet, history keeps repeating itself seemingly ad infinitum.
It’s been somewhat depressing hearing the news over the past week or two that, one by one, various local authorities have dropped out of the North Midlands devolution deal. My sources close to the deal tell me the reasons for this range from sheer stubborness to downright political chicanery.
Whilst I don’t think anyone is claiming that the North Midlands deal is perfect, it’s what we have, and it should rallied around. One can understand if the likes of High Peak wants to try and throw its lot in with the Northern Powerhouse, but what excuse does, for example, South Derbyshire have?
The East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, which of course has to remain neutral, must be incredibly frustrated. As Scott Knowles, its chief executive, told me last week: “Any absence of devolution for the East Midlands in the current wave of deals will not change the fact that this region holds the key to creating jobs, generating wealth and prosperity, unlocking productivity gains and driving balanced and sustainable growth.” You can almost hear his teeth grinding.
And so what next? I understand the entire deal could fall apart within weeks if certain authorities don’t put these differences aside. The Government is unlikely to sanction any deal without the appointment of a mayor, for example, and that is a very real possibility.
As the leaders of the authorities across the North Midlands meet late this week, surely it’s time to put political and personal differences aside for the good of the region?
