BBC News - LIVE: BBC Devolution Debate: South West on Wednesday 5th November
An interesting take from the East Devon Alliance:
DEVOLVED POWER … BUT WHERE?
November 5th, 2014
Interesting debate this evening (available on BBC Iplayer) on devolution of power in the south west and how it might evolve.
If power is devolved in England how far should that power go down? To the south-west (if so, where would it start and which city would be its administrative centre), to a Devon/Cornwall/Somerset/Dorset combination (if so, which ones), to Devon (including or excluding Pkymouth and/or Torbay?), to Northern Devon and Southern Devon, to East Devon(!) to a conurbation centred on Exeter and/or Plymouth, to a collection of towns and parishes (if which towns or parishes?).
Who do you trust to hold power?
What a conundrum!
Devolved power … but where? | East Devon Alliance
Here's a summary of the debate from the BBC:
MORE POWER TO THE SOUTH WEST? : A BBC SPOTLIGHT SPECIAL ON WEDNESDAY 5TH NOVEMBER
This week BBC Spotlight's Justin Leigh was joined by an audience of invited guests at the Eden Project to debate what devolution could mean for the South West.
South West Devolution debate21:53:
In a poll for the BBC, 71 % of people polled in the south west agreed with the statement "Politicians in Westminster don't understand what is best for the rest of the UK"
Capital Appeal(Source ComRes) Do you agree or disagree? Join the conversation on Facebook
22:02:
In a poll for the BBC, 89% of people polled in the south west agreed with the statement "I am glad Scotland is staying as part of the United Kingdom" but the poll revealed an appetite for devolved powers.
More local power
(Source ComRes) Do you agree or disagree? Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash tag #swwhatsnext
In a poll for the BBC, 89% of people polled in the south west agreed with the statement "I am glad Scotland is staying as part of the United Kingdom" but the poll revealed an appetite for devolved powers.
More local power(Source ComRes) Do you agree or disagree? Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash tag #swwhatsnext
22:12: Mark Easton Home editor
I'm taking a road trip around the UK looking at how devolution could work - and testing the public appetite for change.
Mark Easton in NewlynIn Cornwall I found a growing interest for devolution, but different views on what that might mean. Check out my film here
22:24: No more politicians
The St Ives MP Andrew George was one of the guests at the Eden Project earlier this week. He said devolving powers need not come with a high price tag.
Andrew George MP
He said: "Any plan for this clearly has to achieve efficiencies, and certainly under our proposals of 'devolution on demand' - and this includes a special case for Cornwall - it should never result in more politicians or ridiculous administrative burdens."
The St Ives MP Andrew George was one of the guests at the Eden Project earlier this week. He said devolving powers need not come with a high price tag.
Andrew George MPHe said: "Any plan for this clearly has to achieve efficiencies, and certainly under our proposals of 'devolution on demand' - and this includes a special case for Cornwall - it should never result in more politicians or ridiculous administrative burdens."
22:30:
Coming up on BBC One in a few minutes "More Power to the South West? : A BBC Spotlight special". We can offer a fine blend of politicians, business people, campaigners and BBC Spotlight's Justin Leigh, chewing over Devolution issues at a special event at the Eden Project earlier this week. Get involved on Twitter via the hash tag #swwhatsnext
Coming up on BBC One in a few minutes "More Power to the South West? : A BBC Spotlight special". We can offer a fine blend of politicians, business people, campaigners and BBC Spotlight's Justin Leigh, chewing over Devolution issues at a special event at the Eden Project earlier this week. Get involved on Twitter via the hash tag #swwhatsnext
22:40: Cornwall Council 'not fit'?
Justin from Camborne has emailed about the devolution debate.
He said: "Cornwall Council is not fit enough as a organisation to make the decisions it's currently responsible for. Let's restructure, rewrite and simplify the council. If this doesn't happen I, as a Cornish citizen, would be more than happy to see powers taken from Cornwall!" Do you agree? Email us
Justin from Camborne has emailed about the devolution debate.
He said: "Cornwall Council is not fit enough as a organisation to make the decisions it's currently responsible for. Let's restructure, rewrite and simplify the council. If this doesn't happen I, as a Cornish citizen, would be more than happy to see powers taken from Cornwall!" Do you agree? Email us
22:46: Devon and Cornwall together
Transport links were a hot topic at the debate - the leader of Devon County Council John Hart believes an integrated approach is crucial.
John hart
He told the audience at the Eden Project this week: "At the end of the day, Cornwall doesn't work if Dawlish goes down, we all have to work together."
Transport links were a hot topic at the debate - the leader of Devon County Council John Hart believes an integrated approach is crucial.
John hartHe told the audience at the Eden Project this week: "At the end of the day, Cornwall doesn't work if Dawlish goes down, we all have to work together."
22:54: Cosmopolitan Cornwall
Ann Trevenen Jenkin from the Cornish nationalist party Mebyon Kernow is keen on more devolved powers and wants more support for the Cornish language.
Ann Trevenen Jenkin
She said, "All this talk about Cornwall being isolated is rubbish, it's not. It's a very cosmopolitan area, linking up with Canadian settlements, Australian groups, linking up with South American groups."
Ann Trevenen Jenkin from the Cornish nationalist party Mebyon Kernow is keen on more devolved powers and wants more support for the Cornish language.
Ann Trevenen JenkinShe said, "All this talk about Cornwall being isolated is rubbish, it's not. It's a very cosmopolitan area, linking up with Canadian settlements, Australian groups, linking up with South American groups."
22:57: Poorer than Transylvania
Comedian Ed Rowe, also known as Kernow King, told the audience: "We are the poorest region not just in the UK, one of the poorest regions in Europe."
Kernow King
"We've poorer that Romania, poorer than Transylvania, its incredible that we're in this situation and I truly believe that it's because all these big Cornish decisions are being made nearly 300 miles away." Do you agree or disagree? Get in touch using the hash tag #swwhatsnext
Comedian Ed Rowe, also known as Kernow King, told the audience: "We are the poorest region not just in the UK, one of the poorest regions in Europe."
Kernow King"We've poorer that Romania, poorer than Transylvania, its incredible that we're in this situation and I truly believe that it's because all these big Cornish decisions are being made nearly 300 miles away." Do you agree or disagree? Get in touch using the hash tag #swwhatsnext
23:01: Useless MPs
David Critchard from Exeter is watching the devolution debate, he's emailed in and he's not happy, saying: "Our South West MPs are a pretty useless crowd, lazy, untrustworthy.
"Why should we vote for them again? Nor are councillors in the South West encouraging examples of politicians capable of running their existing allocation of our money."
David Critchard from Exeter is watching the devolution debate, he's emailed in and he's not happy, saying: "Our South West MPs are a pretty useless crowd, lazy, untrustworthy.
"Why should we vote for them again? Nor are councillors in the South West encouraging examples of politicians capable of running their existing allocation of our money."
23:04: Cream Tea land?
In the audience for the devolution debate was Nick Bye, estate agent and former Mayor of Torbay.
Nick Bye
He said: "There is a lot we could do to develop a coherent vision for the far south west to get investment, so young people don't move away because there aren't the job opportunities, so we can move away from the perception I think the rest of the country has of us, of a sort of 'Cream Tea' land."
In the audience for the devolution debate was Nick Bye, estate agent and former Mayor of Torbay.
Nick ByeHe said: "There is a lot we could do to develop a coherent vision for the far south west to get investment, so young people don't move away because there aren't the job opportunities, so we can move away from the perception I think the rest of the country has of us, of a sort of 'Cream Tea' land."
23:10: Different taxes for different places?
Michael Foster is Labour's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate in the Camborne, Redruth & Hayle constituency
Michael Foster
He said, "I believe in devolution, I'm not sure I believe in Assemblies, I certainly don't believe in allowing different councils to levy different taxes in different places." Do you agree?
Michael Foster is Labour's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate in the Camborne, Redruth & Hayle constituency
Michael FosterHe said, "I believe in devolution, I'm not sure I believe in Assemblies, I certainly don't believe in allowing different councils to levy different taxes in different places." Do you agree?
23:18: Rebalancing of power
The Mebyon Kernow leader Dick Cole was challenged by BBC Spotlight's Justin Leigh to come up with a figure for what an Assembly for Cornwall could cost.
Dick Cole
Mr Cole admitted he didn't have those figures but added: "Most of the governance we're playing for as citizens is actually hidden. If we got a Cornish Assembly it would not just be a Cornish assembly, it would be a rebalancing of power across the whole United Kingdom".
The Mebyon Kernow leader Dick Cole was challenged by BBC Spotlight's Justin Leigh to come up with a figure for what an Assembly for Cornwall could cost.
Dick ColeMr Cole admitted he didn't have those figures but added: "Most of the governance we're playing for as citizens is actually hidden. If we got a Cornish Assembly it would not just be a Cornish assembly, it would be a rebalancing of power across the whole United Kingdom".
23:32: What the Papers Say
Interesting reaction from local newspapers to tonight's debate. @GraemeDemianyk - WMN Political Editor said: "Cornwall riven over devo, it seems: disagree over name, structure, powers. Most of it semantics but parties arguing the toss"
Scott Harrison @HarrisonMedia - Western Morning News head of news said "Enjoyed BBC's More Power for the South West special. Appetite for Cornish #devolution alive & well... & geographically possible"
Jacqui Wallis, Editor of The West Briton and The Cornishman says "Scotland #indyref has certainly increased debate around #devolution in #cornwall but not convinced govt has any interest in devolving power. Met David Cameron two weeks ago and tried to raise the #cornwall #devolution debate - he immediately changed the subject."
Interesting reaction from local newspapers to tonight's debate. @GraemeDemianyk - WMN Political Editor said: "Cornwall riven over devo, it seems: disagree over name, structure, powers. Most of it semantics but parties arguing the toss"
Scott Harrison @HarrisonMedia - Western Morning News head of news said "Enjoyed BBC's More Power for the South West special. Appetite for Cornish #devolution alive & well... & geographically possible"
Jacqui Wallis, Editor of The West Briton and The Cornishman says "Scotland #indyref has certainly increased debate around #devolution in #cornwall but not convinced govt has any interest in devolving power. Met David Cameron two weeks ago and tried to raise the #cornwall #devolution debate - he immediately changed the subject."
23:33: That's all folks
That's it - thanks so much for your comments and reaction to "More Power to the South West - a BBC Spotlight Special". You can keep the devolution debate going with your BBC local radio stations - just give them a call on Thursday!
BBC News - LIVE: BBC Devolution Debate: South West on Wednesday 5th November
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That's it - thanks so much for your comments and reaction to "More Power to the South West - a BBC Spotlight Special". You can keep the devolution debate going with your BBC local radio stations - just give them a call on Thursday!
BBC News - LIVE: BBC Devolution Debate: South West on Wednesday 5th November
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