Speaking to a Labour conference in Glasgow, John Prescott has announced that the government intend to publish a green paper setting out plans for elected regional assemblies in England. CFER has warmly welcomed this announcement, but want to see it published swiftly so that legislation can be introduced in the first year of the new Parliament.
Mr Prescott said “Our next step must be to deepen regional accountability. You know I am a strong supporter of decentralisation and regional democracy. I believe the time is right to take the next steps, to publish a green paper on empowering our regions to strengthen the accountability of regional chambers, and (where people vote for it) to move to directly elected regional assemblies. People in Scotland and Wales had a choice – I believe it’s time that people in the English regions should have a choice.”