Devolution: England

Debate between Baroness Williams of Trafford and Lord Tebbit

Wednesday 25th March 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, after talking to local government leaders in both Liverpool and Manchester I know they are very pleased with what this Government have given them. If we just look back over the last 30 years we see that it was a Conservative Minister in the form of the then Michael Heseltine who did so much work in Liverpool. It was a Conservative Minister in the form of the then Michael Heseltine who led the regeneration of Hulme, who brought the Metrolink to Manchester and, indeed, who started the regeneration of Manchester after the bomb. I do not accept the noble Lord’s point.

[Lord Tebbit (Con)]

My Lords, I am extremely grateful to my noble friend for having drawn a distinction between decentralisation and devolution. Devolution we do not need—for who needs another layer of government, another load of paid politicians and another load of hangers-on, all swinging on the taxpayers’ wallets?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My noble friend, as always, hits the nail on the head. I could not have put it more articulately.