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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/05/local-authorities-say-they-must-participate-in-eu-exit-negotiations
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| Local authorities say they must participate in EU exit negotiations | Local authorities say they must participate in EU exit negotiations |
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| Local government leaders have called for councils to play a leading role in negotiating the UK’s exit from the European Union, warning that powers cannot simply be transferred from Brussels to Westminster. | Local government leaders have called for councils to play a leading role in negotiating the UK’s exit from the European Union, warning that powers cannot simply be transferred from Brussels to Westminster. |
| Gathering at the Local Government Association’s (LGA) annual conference in Bournemouth, local politicians will also seek urgent assurances from the government that – despite the referendum result – councils will still receive the £5.3bn in EU regeneration funding that has been allocated up to 2020. | Gathering at the Local Government Association’s (LGA) annual conference in Bournemouth, local politicians will also seek urgent assurances from the government that – despite the referendum result – councils will still receive the £5.3bn in EU regeneration funding that has been allocated up to 2020. |
| “Now that the British people have voted to part company with the EU, it is vital that we avoid powers or funding which affect local government getting swallowed up in Whitehall,” said Lord Porter, the chairman of the LGA. | “Now that the British people have voted to part company with the EU, it is vital that we avoid powers or funding which affect local government getting swallowed up in Whitehall,” said Lord Porter, the chairman of the LGA. |
| “Over the last year, more powers and funding have been given to local areas. The referendum result and the political uncertainty that has followed must not see that process stall or go backwards. | “Over the last year, more powers and funding have been given to local areas. The referendum result and the political uncertainty that has followed must not see that process stall or go backwards. |
| “Councils need to be involved from the outset in deciding how EU laws affecting local services are replaced and given the power to run them the way we think is best for our communities. Local government must have a seat at the negotiating table.” | “Councils need to be involved from the outset in deciding how EU laws affecting local services are replaced and given the power to run them the way we think is best for our communities. Local government must have a seat at the negotiating table.” |
| The call comes as the leaders of the North East Combined Authority (NECA) – which will elect a mayor in 2017 – prepare to write to the government to request confirmation that the terms of the area’s devolution deal, signed in October 2015, will remain unchanged following the outcome of the referendum. | The call comes as the leaders of the North East Combined Authority (NECA) – which will elect a mayor in 2017 – prepare to write to the government to request confirmation that the terms of the area’s devolution deal, signed in October 2015, will remain unchanged following the outcome of the referendum. |
| Paul Watson, chair of the NECA, said the north-east had seen significant benefits of membership of the EU in the form of access to European trade and investment and through European regeneration funding. “We remain committed to the devolution agreement but we cannot ignore the impact that the loss of significant funding will have on our region,” he said. “A key principle which underpins the agreement is fair funding and it is right that we request assurances from the government that the content of our agreement will be protected.” | Paul Watson, chair of the NECA, said the north-east had seen significant benefits of membership of the EU in the form of access to European trade and investment and through European regeneration funding. “We remain committed to the devolution agreement but we cannot ignore the impact that the loss of significant funding will have on our region,” he said. “A key principle which underpins the agreement is fair funding and it is right that we request assurances from the government that the content of our agreement will be protected.” |
| The leader of Rochdale borough council, Richard Farnell, was also among a host of prominent figures in the north of England to call on the government not to abandon the Northern Powerhouse project in the wake of the referendum result. | The leader of Rochdale borough council, Richard Farnell, was also among a host of prominent figures in the north of England to call on the government not to abandon the Northern Powerhouse project in the wake of the referendum result. |
| Farnell said the referendum had seen people take the opportunity to kick an establishment that had all but abandoned them, and that politicians should not simply dismiss them as having been duped by anti-EU propaganda. “What people in our great cities, particularly London, and the government, must finally realise is that the lifestyles they enjoy are out of reach of the majority,” he said. “That is because in this country we have an unequal funding system that sees the majority of public investment go to a handful of places – but mainly London.” | Farnell said the referendum had seen people take the opportunity to kick an establishment that had all but abandoned them, and that politicians should not simply dismiss them as having been duped by anti-EU propaganda. “What people in our great cities, particularly London, and the government, must finally realise is that the lifestyles they enjoy are out of reach of the majority,” he said. “That is because in this country we have an unequal funding system that sees the majority of public investment go to a handful of places – but mainly London.” |
| Farnell pointed to 2014 research which showed the capital had enjoyed 24 times more infrastructure spending than the north-east, and a report last year which revealed that the 10 areas that received the most funding for education were all London boroughs. | Farnell pointed to 2014 research which showed the capital had enjoyed 24 times more infrastructure spending than the north-east, and a report last year which revealed that the 10 areas that received the most funding for education were all London boroughs. |
| “There are many other examples of the north of England and places like Rochdale losing out at the expense of London,” he said. “As the fallout from the EU referendum continues, London must heed the lessons of 23 June and ensure that the areas that rejected its vision of the future are not left stuck in the past. | “There are many other examples of the north of England and places like Rochdale losing out at the expense of London,” he said. “As the fallout from the EU referendum continues, London must heed the lessons of 23 June and ensure that the areas that rejected its vision of the future are not left stuck in the past. |
| “The north needs the investment that has helped London and other cities grow. Without it, we are unlikely to ever create a financially viable Britain outside the EU.” | “The north needs the investment that has helped London and other cities grow. Without it, we are unlikely to ever create a financially viable Britain outside the EU.” |