Many county councils, including my own, are submitting applications to participate in HM government’s devolution priority programme. The selected councils are to be announced and confirmed by the Secretary of State on Friday 31st January 2025. In doing so, our County Council’s leader has requested the postponement of local elections, which were due to be held in May this year (2025). Whilst I recognise there are valid arguments both for and against such action, I am nonetheless rather concerned and somewhat affronted. I have written to my local county councillor to question what steps my County Council have taken, or propose taking, to actively engage with their constituents regarding this initiative. By “engaging”, I mean to approach, inform and consult constituents. Whilst devolution of power to local government might seem a wonderful idea in principle, I can’t help questioning whether the current Labour government are shirking more and more of their responsibilities so that they can no longer be held directly accountable. It is also important that an appropriate level of uniformity and fairness is retained throughout the various council regions comprising the UK, especially in light of changing demographics and a climate of increasing division and unrest.
Whilst devolution should not necessarily be rejected outright, I believe the subject area merits sufficient and careful attention and scrutiny before our appointed political representatives quietly pass legislation that fundamentally alters or further erodes our democratic rights.
