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-england-29745031

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Does the East Midlands have enough of a regional identity for devolution? Does the East Midlands have enough of a regional identity for devolution?
(about 11 hours later)
Independence. A word which can inspire patriotic fervour, passionate debate and national pride.Independence. A word which can inspire patriotic fervour, passionate debate and national pride.
Areas such as Northumberland, Cornwall or East Anglia have deep rooted regional identities making the case for devolution an obvious one. But as the devolution debate heats up, what of the East Midlands, a region largely drawn up by Whitehall mandarins? Is there enough of an identity to go it alone?Areas such as Northumberland, Cornwall or East Anglia have deep rooted regional identities making the case for devolution an obvious one. But as the devolution debate heats up, what of the East Midlands, a region largely drawn up by Whitehall mandarins? Is there enough of an identity to go it alone?
At a recent summit about HS2 in the East Midlands, former Pop Idol judge and rail enthusiast Pete Waterman, who chaired the conference, criticised the big councils, describing the region as "highly factionalised".At a recent summit about HS2 in the East Midlands, former Pop Idol judge and rail enthusiast Pete Waterman, who chaired the conference, criticised the big councils, describing the region as "highly factionalised".
Last week, the councils were still bickering about the region's hub: Should it be built in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire? Or, as some politicians in Leicestershire would prefer, should it be built at all?Last week, the councils were still bickering about the region's hub: Should it be built in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire? Or, as some politicians in Leicestershire would prefer, should it be built at all?
But this competitiveness between the three counties is nothing new.But this competitiveness between the three counties is nothing new.
"In the 18th Century the knitting frames came to Leicester and Nottingham as manufacturers cut costs in London. Essentially, the cities were competing," said Prof Rooey Sweet, from the University of Leicester's centre for urban studies. "In the 18th Century the knitting frames came to Leicester and Nottingham as manufacturers cut costs in London. Essentially, the cities were competing," said Prof Roey Sweet, from the University of Leicester's centre for urban studies.
"Leicester has always been a place with a lot of smaller, very wealthy businesses rather than the really powerful machinery and factory owners of the north west.""Leicester has always been a place with a lot of smaller, very wealthy businesses rather than the really powerful machinery and factory owners of the north west."
In the East Midlands, the raw materials needed for Victorian industry were sent from London and the goods returned to the capital to be sold. The three cities did not rely on each other and there were poor transport links.In the East Midlands, the raw materials needed for Victorian industry were sent from London and the goods returned to the capital to be sold. The three cities did not rely on each other and there were poor transport links.
Contrast that with the North West where Manchester operated as a hub, with materials passing through Liverpool and the satellite towns of Lancashire acting as specialist factories.Contrast that with the North West where Manchester operated as a hub, with materials passing through Liverpool and the satellite towns of Lancashire acting as specialist factories.
In both areas, this has left a historical hangover that lingers to this day.In both areas, this has left a historical hangover that lingers to this day.
"What you have in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire are smaller enterprises which have never exercised regional power," Prof Sweet said."What you have in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire are smaller enterprises which have never exercised regional power," Prof Sweet said.
Research by the department suggests very few people moved between Derby, Leicester and Nottingham, although there were strong links between the cities and their counties.Research by the department suggests very few people moved between Derby, Leicester and Nottingham, although there were strong links between the cities and their counties.
It also showed that Leicester looked to London and the south while Derby was much more north and west facing - Nottingham sat somewhere between the two.It also showed that Leicester looked to London and the south while Derby was much more north and west facing - Nottingham sat somewhere between the two.
Work at Nottingham Trent University by linguist Dr Natalie Braber suggests that even today, residents have a similar outlook.Work at Nottingham Trent University by linguist Dr Natalie Braber suggests that even today, residents have a similar outlook.
It also shows how difficult it is to pin down what the East Midlands is and who is from the region.It also shows how difficult it is to pin down what the East Midlands is and who is from the region.
"We worked closely with sixth form students and always ask where the north south divide is. They never hesitate to draw a line," she said."We worked closely with sixth form students and always ask where the north south divide is. They never hesitate to draw a line," she said.
"But when we asked where they were from, only about 15% said East Midlands. Most left the question blank. Interestingly, adults were much happier to say East Midlands.""But when we asked where they were from, only about 15% said East Midlands. Most left the question blank. Interestingly, adults were much happier to say East Midlands."
Even so-called experts might struggle to define its boundaries. Lincolnshire poses a tricky question with the southern area similar to East Anglia while the northern part is more like Yorkshire. What about Northamptonshire? And let's not forget poor old Rutland which gets lumped with Leicestershire despite being an independent county.Even so-called experts might struggle to define its boundaries. Lincolnshire poses a tricky question with the southern area similar to East Anglia while the northern part is more like Yorkshire. What about Northamptonshire? And let's not forget poor old Rutland which gets lumped with Leicestershire despite being an independent county.
As a linguist, Dr Braber's work surrounds accents and dialects, something she says is crucial to a sense of identity, particularly regional identity.As a linguist, Dr Braber's work surrounds accents and dialects, something she says is crucial to a sense of identity, particularly regional identity.
If you meet someone with a similar accent you immediately have something in common, but who can pinpoint a Nottingham or Leicester twang?If you meet someone with a similar accent you immediately have something in common, but who can pinpoint a Nottingham or Leicester twang?
"The East Midlands is a really odd and interesting region," she said."The East Midlands is a really odd and interesting region," she said.
"There's something lacking in this region - not in a negative sense - that people can point out as East Midlands.""There's something lacking in this region - not in a negative sense - that people can point out as East Midlands."
There is also a lack of cultural icons from the area to provide an easy shorthand and reference point for the region as a whole.There is also a lack of cultural icons from the area to provide an easy shorthand and reference point for the region as a whole.
It could appear then, that there are too many differences between the three main counties in the East Midlands for them to work together.It could appear then, that there are too many differences between the three main counties in the East Midlands for them to work together.
But Dr Braber has noted something happening to the accent in the last few years .But Dr Braber has noted something happening to the accent in the last few years .
Say "Leicester" in Leicester and it often comes out as Les-tah. Properly would be properleh and happy, happeh.Say "Leicester" in Leicester and it often comes out as Les-tah. Properly would be properleh and happy, happeh.
At Kasabian's homecoming gig in the city's Victoria Park (Vickeh Park), Sergio Pizzorno had the word Les-tah emblazoned across his chest. One of the tracks on their latest album is called eez-eh (easy) - both nods to their roots.At Kasabian's homecoming gig in the city's Victoria Park (Vickeh Park), Sergio Pizzorno had the word Les-tah emblazoned across his chest. One of the tracks on their latest album is called eez-eh (easy) - both nods to their roots.
It all might sound like an ingrained, long-standing feature of the Leicester twang. Not so.It all might sound like an ingrained, long-standing feature of the Leicester twang. Not so.
"It's quite a new thing, only the last 10 years or so, but it's quickly become something that people identify with," Dr Braber said."It's quite a new thing, only the last 10 years or so, but it's quickly become something that people identify with," Dr Braber said.
And it has crept over the border to Nottingham.And it has crept over the border to Nottingham.
Is there a hope then, that this disparate area could work together and become a genuinely devolved region within the UK? Prof Sweet thinks that, perhaps, if real powers are handed down then maybe, just maybe, it would provide something for the people to unite behind.Is there a hope then, that this disparate area could work together and become a genuinely devolved region within the UK? Prof Sweet thinks that, perhaps, if real powers are handed down then maybe, just maybe, it would provide something for the people to unite behind.
"The East Midlands is entirely a top down imposition, an administrative convenience in order to carve up the country and very difficult to impose."The East Midlands is entirely a top down imposition, an administrative convenience in order to carve up the country and very difficult to impose.
"It's a problem with this idea of regional devolution. Whilst there are some areas which clearly have a broader regional identity there are also a lot of ill defined regions for the sake of administrative efficiency."It's a problem with this idea of regional devolution. Whilst there are some areas which clearly have a broader regional identity there are also a lot of ill defined regions for the sake of administrative efficiency.
"If a lot more regional powers are devolved then they might have a common experience - electing someone, spending money locally - that could create a sense of identity."If a lot more regional powers are devolved then they might have a common experience - electing someone, spending money locally - that could create a sense of identity.
"How quickly and how successfully would depend on how much power is devolved.""How quickly and how successfully would depend on how much power is devolved."