West Midlands devolution a big risk for Central Government says Heseltine

THE architect of West Midlands devolution has warned the region that Central Government will be taking a huge risk giving it responsibility for its own destiny.

Lord Heseltine said it wasn’t just a case of the region wanting to steer its own future, it had to abide by the model laid down from Whitehall.

He was speaking to an audience at the annual conference of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership at Birmingham Town Hall – the very stage from which he launched his blueprint for devolution, No Stone Unturned, three years ago.

He said: “Central Government is taking a real risk over devolution because the blame, should it go wrong will come back to them.
“They are looking to be sure that there will be an effective and accountable local machine, with the directly elected individual being responsible for what it does.”

Chancellor George Osborne has already told the region that if it wants to wants to stand before Whitehall as a single entity then it will have to be headed by a directly elected metropolitan mayor.

However, the problem the region has is the lack of a candidate capable of leading such a combination of local authorities and engaging with and inspiring the local communities.

Seven local authorities from across the region have already pledged their support for a combined authority and even come up with a name for it – albeit an uninspired one – West Midlands Combined Authority.

Lord Heseltine said Birmingham’s attempts to match Manchester were unrealistic as the latter had been honing its model for the last 20 years and was now reaping the benefits of a united approach.

However, he said this was not beyond the reach of a united Birmingham and the wider region had to be imaginative in its approach.

He said politicians should be afraid to approach Whitehall and challenge the mandarins.

“Tell them that the central machine isn’t up to the job of deciding what’s best for Birmingham and show them how you can change things,” he said.

“I think you will find them receptive. I feel that across the country there’s a great appetite for change. Implementing it will be a challenge but there’s plenty of momentum being gathered to turn the fate of local government away from Whitehall.

“Don’t wait to be asked what you want – go up and tell them; and tell them how you could do it better.”