ONE of the things I am hoping is achieved in this New Year, is that Yorkshire can be given a proper devolution settlement which supports the entire county rather than just certain sections of it.

I firstly want to praise the hard work of Keighley’s MP John Grogan and Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe, who have both been fighting for this so vehemently.

The simple fact is that Yorkshire has a distinct identity and a great level of potential which needs to be unlocked. It has a similar population to Scotland and has a larger population than Wales, and yet so far it has had no real devolved power given to it.

It has been disappointing that rather than try to resolve this chronic unfairness, the Government has been mucking around and failing to see sense. It has tried to divide the region by creating a separate package for South Yorkshire in an attempt to create a two-tier devolution deal. This simply isn’t good enough.

The ‘One Yorkshire’ settlement, which would see the creation of a single Yorkshire Mayor like Manchester and Teesside, is the only sensible way forward for Yorkshire, and it’s time the Government saw sense and accepted this.

It would allow the whole county to work together, fight for its interests and speak with one voice. I am glad that our local politicians are proudly battling for this and it’s time the Government did the same.

COUNCILLOR LUKE MAUNSELL Keighley Town Council, Oakworth Ward