"...a poorly contrived and disguised cosmetic exercise, to make it look like that the people of Greater Manchester have some kind of input into this whole shoddy, undemocratic so-called devolution process..."
The controversial process of Greater Manchester devolution, or Devo Manc, has had a democracy deficit from Day One, with deals done behind closed doors between Labour Party council leaders and Chancellor George Osborne (see previous Salford Star article click here).
On Monday, 26th October, the Communities and Local Government Parliamentary Select Committee is holding an evidence session at Manchester Town Hall as part of its inquiry into the Government's Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill in which Greater Manchester's 2.8million residents will have just one hour to question the proposals.
The Select Committee is allowing the public to air its views in a Question and Answer session from 8:50am until 9:50am, before unelected GM Interim Mayor, Tony Lloyd, gets his say, followed by Sue Derbyshire, Leader of Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and Kieran Quinn, Leader of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. Yet all have been an integral part of the undemocractic process so far that has seen devolution imposed without proper public consultation or a referendum.
From 10am until noon it's the turn of Professor Karel Williams, from the University of Manchester, David Fernandez-Arias, Greater Manchester Referendum Campaign for Democratic Devolution, Joe Anderson, Mayor, Liverpool City Council, someone from West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Chris Murray, Director, Core Cities.
The evidence session, which allows just an hour for the general public to have their say has been slammed as "simply outrageous" by Stephen Hall, Greater Manchester TUC President, speaking on behalf of the cross party and trades union supported Greater Manchester Referendum Campaign for democratic devolution...
"That the Parliamentary Select Committee will only be providing an hour for the public of Greater Manchester Public to 'provide evidence' and 'share their thoughts', which the publicity for it says is 'crucial' to inform the Committee's inquiries, is quite simply outrageous, and beggars belief" he explains "Surely, if the Select Committee was even slightly serious, they could at the very least extend their proceedings to an afternoon session to allow more submissions from the general public, and from civic and community groups including the trades unions?
"Though this would still not do, such a step would at least allow more people and organisations from Greater Manchester to submit evidence, and for their views on the issue to be heard by the committee, rather than just the small 'Bubble' of locally based professional politicians, local Government bureaucrats and 'business leaders' who are likely to be the only ones who will get any kind of hearing" he adds.
"As it stands the Parliamentary Select Committee meeting in Manchester appears to us as nothing other than a poorly contrived and disguised cosmetic exercise, to make it look like that the people of Greater Manchester have some kind of input into this whole shoddy, undemocratic so-called devolution process, when the reality is the very opposite" he says "It is also part farcical in that almost a year on, most of our local MPs and Councillors don't even know the precise details of the proposed new set up, especially in relation to the NHS and social care, other than in general, it won't involve either them or the very people of the English regions it is alleged to empower.
"As the public session of the event is already fully booked up, the reality is, other than for a no doubt pre-selected few, who might get to say something for more than five minutes, the rest of the people of Greater Manchester will again get no say whatsoever" he concludes "One has to wonder why they even bothering with the pretence of even asking what local people's views are."
Lobby of Communities and Local Government Parliamentary Select Committee
Monday 26th October from 8am
Manchester Town Hall
See also Salford Star articles...
The £13.8million cost of Devolution - click here
Hundreds call for Devolution Referendum - click here
Salford UNISON passes motion on `Terrible Risks' of devolution - click here
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