The north-east of England has not been entirely overlooked in the Conservatives’ last-minute dash to woo northern voters with devolved powers (Editorial, 21 March). The North East Combined Authority, assembled out of the seven local councils from Northumberland to Durham, already has devolved powers in relation to planning, transport and economic development, while the same offer is being considered by the other half of the region. But if devolution is to make any difference to the north’s sense of alienation from the London elites (Labour as much as Tory), it won’t help to have the powers taken up instead by local political elites, who are equally perceived (sometimes unfairly) as remote and unresponsive to the ordinary citizen. There are new parties now active in the north, including Yorkshire First and the North East party, which are stimulating a renewed interest in a Scottish-style devolution deal, with properly constituted regional institutions of government.
Christine Hartas
Newcastle upon Tyne
