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Nick Clegg backs 'radical' English devolution plan Nick Clegg backs 'radical' English devolution plan
(about 1 hour 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".
Meanwhile, UKIP leader Nigel Farage has warned England is "being ignored". Labour called on Mr Clegg to back up his "warm words" with substance.
He said the UK must have a new constitutional settlement whatever the outcome of the Scottish referendum. UKIP leader Nigel Farage warned England was "being ignored" and said the UK must have a new constitutional settlement whatever the outcome of the Scottish referendum.
'Partial and piecemeal''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.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.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".
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.
But it says these steps have been "partial and piecemeal".But it says these steps have been "partial and piecemeal".
'Core cities''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".
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.""England has waited patiently while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been given ever greater devolution. Now is the time to redress the balance."
'Re-energised''Re-energised'
Speaking in Sheffield, Mr Clegg will say more power must be shifted away from Westminster to the English regions.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."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.""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."
Labour said it had already set out "detailed plans for the biggest decentralisation of power and funding for a century".
Shadow Communities Secretary Hilary Benn said: "There is now an unstoppable tide running in favour of passing power down, but Nick Clegg seems to be waking up late to the call for less centralisation.
"What people want is not warm words but substance to back it up."
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.
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.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''Ignored'
"At the moment, the English are feeling rather ignored in all of this," he told BBC Radio 4's Today."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.""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.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."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."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.""And we have done the same with devolution - I am fully in favour of a federal UK."