North Yorkshire Region - Yorkshire Party

The Yorkshire Party promotes the benefits of devolution and localism for all parts of Yorkshire. We hold regular meetings in various locations of Yorkshire for all who are interested. As a party, we believe the way forward for a prosperous Yorkshire is a Yorkshire Parliament or Assembly with the full support of the presiding Westminster Government in Britain.

As we enter a post-Brexit era, according to the Bank of England and many business organisations, the UK will initially suffer economic disadvantages regardless of the result we negotiate. Businesses throughout the UK will have to quickly adjust by looking for fresh opportunities. However, business will be looking for the government to take the lead and devise a new development strategy for economic growth. The government will need to show initiative and have a comprehensive radical plan to minimise the difficulties of leaving the EU, and perhaps part of the answer to this is autonomy to the regions, acting as a catalyst for post-Brexit growth. The EU development funds currently being invested in the most deprived areas of the UK will have to be replaced after Brexit. The Yorkshire Party advocates that there is no better way of investing in these regions than appointing regional assemblies run by local people, who can recognise and prioritise local problems. The devolved political system is not an experimental model. It has proven over many years to be very successful, in Germany and Switzerland for instance. The Swiss Cantonal System is a model democracy. The alternative to devolution would mean more of the same. London, with its established assembly together with the South East of England, will continue to prosper and leave the rest of the country behind. The poorest regions of the UK need to take action now to avoid further economic deterioration, leading to more unemployment and homelessness Devolution after Brexit throughout all the UK particularly the deprived areas could be the impetus the government needs. The government should seize this opportunity which will eventually benefit all of the UK. John P Hall