Tom Gordon MP Demands Real Power for Yorkshire

Yorkshire’s only Liberal Democrat MP, Tom Gordon, took a strong stand for the region in Parliament last night, speaking on his amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. His proposal would have put decision-making firmly in Yorkshire’s hands– delivering local solutions to local challenges.

Tom’s case was clear: Yorkshire, with a population comparable to Scotland, an economy on par with Wales, and a proud regional identity, deserves the same powers as those nations, not the crumbs Westminster has offered.

He warned that Westminster’s current approach, splitting Yorkshire into four separate areas with four mayors, has created division and inefficiency. This fragmentation, he argued, has
stopped the region from working as one and becoming the economic powerhouse it could be.

Tom’s amendment offered a bold alternative: a single Yorkshire regional body with real powers over health, transport, education, and more. This would allow Yorkshire to design
systems that work for its people, such as a region-wide transport network reflecting real travel patterns and health services tailored to local needs, rather than being dictated by
policies made in Westminster.

Although the amendment did not pass, Tom remains determined to fight for Yorkshire to gain the powers it needs to reach its full potential.

Commenting, Tom said:

‘For too long, Westminster’s one-size-fits-all approach has failed Yorkshire. We are a region with the population of Scotland and the economy of Wales yet lack the powers those nations
enjoy.

‘Yorkshire deserves the ability to shape its own future. My amendment would have given us real control over key areas so we can design systems that work for Yorkshire, not be
dictated by policies made in London.

‘The current fragmented model with four separate mayors, creates division and inefficiency. We need a united Yorkshire with the powers to become the economic powerhouse we know
it can be. I will keep fighting until our region gets the power it deserves.’