Tom Gordon MP has tabled an amendment to the English Devolution Bill to deliver further powers to the region.
He calls for greater regional autonomy and a break from Westminster’s one-size-fits-all approach that has long neglected Yorkshire’s communities.
The amendment aims to give Yorkshire control over services such as transport, education, health, and housing – powers Tom says are critical to undoing decades of neglect and underinvestment.
Central to the proposal is a call for a unified, Yorkshire-wide settlement, allowing the region to make decisions collectively rather than being fractured into four competing mayoral areas.
Tom points to persistent challenges as clear evidence that current devolution arrangements and Westminster’s centralised control are failing Yorkshire. Much of the region still lacks basic mass transit; rural communities often have no viable transport options. Education and skills policies are centrally dictated, ignoring the needs of local economies, especially in post-industrial towns hit the hardest by decline. Health outcomes fall below the national average, yet services remain shaped by distant decision-makers.
For Tom, these issues are symptoms of a system that funnels resources into the South while leaving the North behind. His amendment aims to rebalance power by putting decision-making in the hands of local communities, who know their needs best.
Tom Gordon MP said:
Yorkshire’s economy rivals Wales, its population matches Scotland’s, and its regional identity runs deep. Yet Westminster has consistently held us back, too focused on funnelling resources into the South.
Yorkshire deserves far better.
That’s why I’ve tabled an amendment to the English Devolution Bill to secure real powers over transport, health, education, and more.
If Westminster won’t support Yorkshire’s future, it must step aside and let us take charge. Yorkshire’s potential is ready to be unlocked, and I’m determined to make that happen.
Good to see Tom Gordon speaking out for Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Party has long been a lone voice on this issue. Our current mayoral setup has delivered limited impact. Recognising this, the three Labour mayors formed the White Rose Group to give Yorkshire a stronger collective voice. Disappointingly, the Reform mayor, Luke Campbell, who initially showed interest, later chose not to take part. As Tom rightly says, Yorkshire needs the powers to take control of its own agenda. Yorkshire folk know our region best — its strengths, its challenges, and its potential. We should be trusted to shape our own future, with a devolved Yorkshire government that reflects our shared identity and ambitions.