English Regions

There is a creeping recognition of the principle of proportionality in contexts as different as Billy Bragg’s proposal that the House of Lords be replaced by members reflecting the vote cast in general elections in each region and nation. The way the Association of Local Government works means that Labour’s Sir Jeremy Beecham lost his post after the local elections. LCER members may remember Jeremy’s speech to conference endorsing the principle of proportionality for local councils. Councillor Chanel Stevens has emphasised in the South West how already every vote counts in local elections. This is because the local authority input into the unelected regional assemblies (chambers) is allocated on the basis of the party share of the vote in the region. This cushions parties who are losing councils and councillors when the actual percentage for the votes are less dramatic than FPTP results suggest.

The Campaign for the English Regions, CFER, have produced a joint pamphlet with LGIU, Regions That Work (available on www.lgiu.org.uk) arguing for more workable devolution of responsibility to the regions, a case discussed in the RSA document, Elected Assemblies in English Regions: Democratic passport to inclusive prosperity or powerless talking shops? (www.thersa.org).