This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29155854

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Nick Clegg backs 'radical' English devolution plan Nick Clegg backs 'radical' English devolution plan
(about 4 hours later)
Nick Clegg is to launch a "radical" report calling for more power to be devolved to the English regions.Nick Clegg is to launch a "radical" report calling for more power to be devolved to the English regions.
The deputy PM argues such a move will be needed after the Scottish referendum, with new powers promised for Holyrood if there is a No vote.The deputy PM argues such a move will be needed after the Scottish referendum, with new powers promised for Holyrood if there is a No vote.
The report, by the IPPR North think tank, proposes a new wave of combined local authorities headed by directly elected "metro mayors".The report, by the IPPR North think tank, proposes a new wave of combined local authorities headed by directly elected "metro mayors".
It comes as the leaders of eight English cities call for more power. Meanwhile, UKIP leader Nigel Farage has warned England is "being ignored".
The IPPR North report says all but one of the biggest and most economically important English cities outside London - Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester - have lagged behind the national average GDP per capita. Only Bristol has bucked the trend. He said the UK must have a new constitutional settlement whatever the outcome of the Scottish referendum.
'Partial and piecemeal'
The IPPR North report, entitled Decentralisation Decade, says all but one of the biggest and most economically important English cities outside London - Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester - have lagged behind the national average GDP per capita.
Only Bristol has bucked the trend.
This is in stark contrast to Germany, Italy, Sweden and France where "so-called second-tier cities have been at the forefront of economic growth" and have even outperformed capital cities, says the report.This is in stark contrast to Germany, Italy, Sweden and France where "so-called second-tier cities have been at the forefront of economic growth" and have even outperformed capital cities, says the report.
It also highlights growing public anger at "the Westminster bubble" and the "strong sense that democracy in the UK has been 'captured' by narrow networks of powerful but increasingly unaccountable elites".It also highlights growing public anger at "the Westminster bubble" and the "strong sense that democracy in the UK has been 'captured' by narrow networks of powerful but increasingly unaccountable elites".
'Partial and piecemeal'
It says the answer is decentralisation - handing tax-raising and spending powers to beefed-up local authorities covering larger areas, with directly elected mayors.It says the answer is decentralisation - handing tax-raising and spending powers to beefed-up local authorities covering larger areas, with directly elected mayors.
The report acknowledges the coalition government's efforts to decentralise power - through initiatives such as the City Deal, free schools and and police and crime commissioners - and Labour's recent calls for the creation of regional powerhouse authorities to drive growth.The report acknowledges the coalition government's efforts to decentralise power - through initiatives such as the City Deal, free schools and and police and crime commissioners - and Labour's recent calls for the creation of regional powerhouse authorities to drive growth.
"In truth, however, while the direction of travel is positive, these measures are partial and piecemeal," says the IPPR report. But it says these steps have been "partial and piecemeal".
'Core cities'
The think tank's 10-year plan identifies 40 different functions of government - currently controlled by 13 different Whitehall departments - that it says should be devolved.The think tank's 10-year plan identifies 40 different functions of government - currently controlled by 13 different Whitehall departments - that it says should be devolved.
It says all local authorities should have full control over setting council tax bills - with the power to introduce new bands - and full control over the setting of business rates.It says all local authorities should have full control over setting council tax bills - with the power to introduce new bands - and full control over the setting of business rates.
It also calls for a review of property taxes with a view to decentralising control of them and says 10% of the income-tax take in each of the combined authorities "should be assigned to those authorities".It also calls for a review of property taxes with a view to decentralising control of them and says 10% of the income-tax take in each of the combined authorities "should be assigned to those authorities".
'Core cities'
IPPR North director Ed Cox said: "Whichever way Scotland votes next week, Edinburgh will get new powers and widen the gap with local leaders across England.IPPR North director Ed Cox said: "Whichever way Scotland votes next week, Edinburgh will get new powers and widen the gap with local leaders across England.
"England has waited patiently while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been given ever greater devolution. Now is the time to redress the balance and devolve powers to English city-regions." "England has waited patiently while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been given ever greater devolution. Now is the time to redress the balance."
Mr Clegg, who will launch the report in a speech at Sheffield town hall on Friday, said the think tank's report was "incredibly useful" as "shifting power away from Westminster to the cities and regions has long been a priority of mine". 'Re-energised'
Speaking in Sheffield, Mr Clegg will say more power must be shifted away from Westminster to the English regions.
"If ever there was a time to push for action on decentralisation, it's now," he is expected to say.
"You only need look at how the Scottish Referendum debate has re-energised people's interest and engagement in politics over the last few weeks to see that this is an idea whose time has come."
In a separate development, the leaders of some England's biggest councils, including Manchester's Sir Richard Leese, Liverpool's Joe Anderson and Bristol Mayor George Ferguson will join forces to call for regional devolution of power at a special "core cities" conference in London.In a separate development, the leaders of some England's biggest councils, including Manchester's Sir Richard Leese, Liverpool's Joe Anderson and Bristol Mayor George Ferguson will join forces to call for regional devolution of power at a special "core cities" conference in London.
The eight core cities - which have recently added Glasgow to their ranks - will share a platform with business leaders from the CBI, Siemens, Mothercare and other leading firms.The eight core cities - which have recently added Glasgow to their ranks - will share a platform with business leaders from the CBI, Siemens, Mothercare and other leading firms.
Sir Richard said: "With the prospect of devolution looming for Scotland and Wales irrespective of the outcome of the Scottish referendum, decentralisation within England is now one of the biggest single economic issues facing government." Nigel Farage, who will campaign in Scotland later on Friday, joined calls for the English regions to be given some of the same powers being contemplated for Scotland.
'Ignored'
"At the moment, the English are feeling rather ignored in all of this," he told BBC Radio 4's Today.
"We have been talking about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland a lot over the last 16 , 17 years and a new constitutional settlement for a federal UK will suit everybody."
He said he was adamantly opposed to the break-up of the UK but he acknowledged UKIP had been wrong to oppose the setting up of the Scottish Parliament in the 1990s and he argued that the UK needed to accommodate the legitimate democratic and economic ambitions of its different nations.
"I think UKIP made the same mistake in the 1990s that the whole Westminster establishment has been making for 150 years.
"We resisted Gladstone's Home Rule bill (for Ireland) and we finished up losing a large chunk of Ireland which went up independent in the early 1920s.
"And we have done the same with devolution - I am fully in favour of a federal UK."