Policy Press
One Introduction
-
John Tomaney
Abstract
In 1885 the celebrated constitutional theorist A.V. Dicey could argue:
Two features have at all times since the Norman Conquest characterized the political institutions of England.… The first of these features is the omnipotence or undisputed supremacy throughout the whole country of the central government.… The second, which is closely connected with the first, is the rule or supremacy of law. (Quoted in Weir and Beetham, 1999, p 6)
Such a constitutional theory would appear to leave little space for regionalism within English political culture and administration. Attempts were made to introduce regional planning structures into England in the 1960s and 1970s by Labour governments. However, these were weak bodies and remained very much the creatures of central control, and did not survive the election of Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government in 1979 (although in 1994 the Major government did create Government Offices [GOs] in order to integrate the activities of central government in the regions). It is only recently in the modern period that English regionalism has begun to be a significant political force.
Proposals for the reform of English regional governance began to circulate within the Labour Party in the 1980s. In opposition, the Labour Party accumulated a range of ill-specified commitments as far as the English regions were concerned. Their 1992 Manifesto committed the party to elected regional government in England, alongside proposed reforms in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London. However, little detailed policy work was undertaken on the subject, although the statement was enough to stir signs of interest in regions such as the North East.
Abstract
In 1885 the celebrated constitutional theorist A.V. Dicey could argue:
Two features have at all times since the Norman Conquest characterized the political institutions of England.… The first of these features is the omnipotence or undisputed supremacy throughout the whole country of the central government.… The second, which is closely connected with the first, is the rule or supremacy of law. (Quoted in Weir and Beetham, 1999, p 6)
Such a constitutional theory would appear to leave little space for regionalism within English political culture and administration. Attempts were made to introduce regional planning structures into England in the 1960s and 1970s by Labour governments. However, these were weak bodies and remained very much the creatures of central control, and did not survive the election of Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government in 1979 (although in 1994 the Major government did create Government Offices [GOs] in order to integrate the activities of central government in the regions). It is only recently in the modern period that English regionalism has begun to be a significant political force.
Proposals for the reform of English regional governance began to circulate within the Labour Party in the 1980s. In opposition, the Labour Party accumulated a range of ill-specified commitments as far as the English regions were concerned. Their 1992 Manifesto committed the party to elected regional government in England, alongside proposed reforms in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London. However, little detailed policy work was undertaken on the subject, although the statement was enough to stir signs of interest in regions such as the North East.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables and figures v
- Acknowledgements vii
- List of contributors ix
- Introduction 1
- Regional government in England: reviewing the evidence base 11
- New Labour and the evolution of regionalism in England 25
- Yorkshire (and the Humber) 45
- Institutional collaboration in the West Midlands region 63
- England’s North West 81
- The South West 95
- Regionalism in the East of England 109
- The South East region? 125
- Regionalism in North East England 137
- Regional strategy development in the East Midlands 147
- The problem of regional governance 159
- Elected regional government: the issues 173
- Barnett plus needs: the regional spending challenge in Britain 187
- Conclusion: prospects for regionalism 207
- Index 219
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables and figures v
- Acknowledgements vii
- List of contributors ix
- Introduction 1
- Regional government in England: reviewing the evidence base 11
- New Labour and the evolution of regionalism in England 25
- Yorkshire (and the Humber) 45
- Institutional collaboration in the West Midlands region 63
- England’s North West 81
- The South West 95
- Regionalism in the East of England 109
- The South East region? 125
- Regionalism in North East England 137
- Regional strategy development in the East Midlands 147
- The problem of regional governance 159
- Elected regional government: the issues 173
- Barnett plus needs: the regional spending challenge in Britain 187
- Conclusion: prospects for regionalism 207
- Index 219
