Isle MP backs plans to give power to the regions

Isle MP Andrew Percy launched the campaign along with other MPs to demand more powers away from central Government to North Lincolnshire.

The campaigning MP, co-chairman of All Party Parliamentary Group for Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, also launched the group’s devolution manifesto called Devolution for Prosperity.

Mr Percy said the manifesto specifically called for more powers and decisions around transport, skills and business support to be devolved from Westminster to the region to put power into local people’s hands.

Speaking after the meeting he said: “The cross-party group of MPs has been taking evidence for more than a year from key groups and individuals including business groups, local enterprise partnerships and Ministers and Shadow Ministers.”

He added: “The need for this report was made more stark by the offer of greater devolution to Scotland in the aftermath of the referendum there earlier this year. The North of England directly competes with Scotland and the flexibilities and new powers being offered to Scotland could make it much harder for us in North Lincolnshire and elsewhere in the North of England to compete for business investment.

“Local people know decisions can be made much better here in North Lincolnshire by local people or by co-operating with partners across the Humber. That is why we have made it very clear in our report that powers must be devolved and must be devolved to every part of our region.”