The path to autonomyIT IS not often that Cornwall gets a mention in a chancellor of the exchequer’s budget. But on July 8th, as George Osborne laid out his vision for all levels of the economy and all corners of the nation, he promised more say in local decision-making for England’s most southerly county.
Mr Osborne’s nod to Cornwall was in the context of his continued efforts to devolve power to mostly Labour-run, post-industrial northern cities and regions. “Let’s put the power into the northern powerhouse,” he urged, to jeers from opposition MPs who have seen the plan run into problems in recent weeks. The chancellor promised more powers to the ten councils that make up the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which is leading the push for devolution, and said he was working on deals with Sheffield, Liverpool and Leeds. And then he mentioned Cornwall, which is neither northern, nor post-industrial, nor Labour-run.
The immediate reason for the inclusion of a county more famous for its beaches and Liberal politics is to broaden the offer of devolution beyond those northern cities, and show that any...Continue reading
via Brian Rushton, South-western powerhouse
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