Forced Academisation
The LGA has issued, on a cross party basis, a briefing strongly opposing the forced academisation of council maintained schools. A link can be found here. And a reminder of the LGA Lib Dem Group’s comment from last week, which can be found here.
Devolution Report – launched this week
Below are lines you may find helpful to use if you want to comment on the All Party report on Devolution- a link can be found at www.local.gov.uk/devolution-inquiry
[England]
Responding to the final report of the Inquiry into Better Devolution for the UK, [YOUR NAME HERE] Spokesperson said:
“This comprehensive review endorses much of the Liberal Democrat approach, recognising that devolution needs to happen at different speeds for different places.
“It rightly recognises that George Osborne’s insistence on imposing City Mayors in return for devolved powers is wrong. Residents in the many cities which voted against Mayors only three years ago will hope the Chancellor is listening.
“The Government should now establish a Citizens’ Convention on constitutional identity within the United Kingdom, and introduce an England Bill, setting out a menu of powers which can be drawn down as of right by English local government.”
Lib Dem Local Government Spokesperson and Deputy Leader of the Local Government Association Liberal Democrat Group, Mayor Dorothy Thornhill, added:
“We welcome the proposal to give extra financial freedom and flexibility to local government, which in turn is accountable to people via the ballot box.
“We share the committee’s concern about the centralising tendency of this government in areas like housing and schools and warmly support the call for extra safeguards to stop power being grabbed from local government by Westminster and Whitehall.
“Finally, as a party with a long commitment to electoral reform, we also welcome the committee’s call for local authorities to have the power to hold a referenda on changing the voting system for their council”.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Liberal Democrats agreed a policy for ‘devolution on demand’ at their York conference in 2014. It formed the basis of the Liberal Democrat contribution to a Coalition Government white paper on The Implications of Devolution for England. See page 28 – pdf.
The report, “Devolution and the Union” can be found at http://www.local.gov.uk/devolution-inquiry
[Additional Comment for Wales]
Responding to the final report of the Inquiry into Better Devolution for the UK, [YOUR NAME HERE]Spokesperson said:
“This comprehensive review endorses much of the Liberal Democrat approach, recognising that devolution needs to happen at different speeds for different places.
“It rightly recognises the need for legislative power with greater fiscal devolution to Wales.
“Labour must now get out of the way of making that happen.”
ENDS