Devolution to the North of England

{{Main|Northern England#History}}

Prior to the unification of England in the 10th century, Northern England had broadly constituted the Kingdom of Northumbria, deriving from the Old English Norþan-hymbre meaning "the people or province north of the Humber".{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/future-humber-devolution-remains-uncertain-after-row-over-role-local-enterprise-partnership-chair-stephen-parnaby-2899993|title=Future of Humber devolution remains uncertain after row over role of Local Enterprise Partnership chair Stephen Parnaby|last=Parsons|first=Rob|date=2 July 2020|work=The Yorkshire Post|accessdate=25 February 2021}}

One of the first bodies formed in modern times to address local autonomy issues and grievances was the "Council of the North" formed in 1988. This was in response to the North's concern with the taking over of York-based Rowntree by the Swiss firm, Nestlé. The original Council of the North had last met in the 17th century to deal with the chaos of the English Civil War. The council met, and while it was attended by noted businessmen and politicians, little came of it and the movement soon petered out.{{cite journal|url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0962-6298%2893%2990033-4|last=Taylor|first=Peter J.|date=1 March 1993|title=I. The meaning of the north: England's 'foreign country' within?|journal=Political Geography|language=en|volume=12|issue=2|pages=137|doi=10.1016/0962-6298(93)90033-4|issn=0962-6298}}

The more recent push for Scottish independence has had its effect on the North of England, with the 2004 North East England devolution referendum held in order to decide whether to establish a parliament for the North.{{cite journal|last=Shaw|first=Keith|date=2 January 2018|title="Northern Lights:" An Assessment of the Political and Economic Challenges Facing North East England in the Context of Greater Scottish Autonomy|journal=Journal of Borderlands Studies|volume=33|issue=1|pages=35–52|doi=10.1080/08865655.2016.1270170|issn=0886-5655|doi-access=free}} This has partly been spurred on by the feeling that London and the south are culturally different to the North, with some commentary stating that the "real" English are seen as the South.{{cite journal|last1=Bond|first1=Ross|last2=McCrone|first2=David|date=1 January 2004|title=The growth of English regionalism? institutions and identity|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/1359756042000245151|journal=Regional & Federal Studies|volume=14|issue=1|pages=1–25|doi=10.1080/1359756042000245151|s2cid=219717167 |issn=1359-7566}} There are also concerns that if Scotland was to become independent, then economic factors associated with this would negatively affect the North, with industry/investment going to Scotland with possible tax breaks. Establishing a separate country or autonomous region is seen by some as a way to stop this. Alternatively, a potential more successful focussed economic hub based around Scotland could benefit the North of England, as their population centre is closer to it than to London.{{cite web|last=Coman|first=Julian|date=10 October 2013|title=Could an independent Scotland be just what northern England needs?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/10/independent-scotland-northern-england|website=The Guardian|language=en}} To some, the differences between London and Scotland are similar to the differences between London and the North of England.

Economically, North Eastern Businesses have called for greater control over the region's financial affairs.{{cite web|url=https://www.necc.co.uk/policy/policy-library|title=Evidence to the Smith Commission on Scottish Devolution|publisher=North East Chamber of Commerce|year=2014}} However, despite these sentiments, the 2004 referendum for more autonomy was convincingly rejected, with a voter turnout of 45%.{{cite web|url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/election-data/index.cfm?epage=q&frmElectionID=4|title=Electoral Commission results page|accessdate=27 September 2007}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3984387.stm|title=North East votes 'no' to assembly|date=5 November 2004|publisher=BBC News}} 2015 saw a petition for part of the North to secede and join Scotland gain 28,000 signatures.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/could-north-england-break-away-and-become-part-new-scotland-10252821.html|title=New Scotland explained: Could the north of England really break away from Britain?|last=Stone|first=Jon|date=15 May 2015|work=The Independent}}

File:Northern England.svg government regions (North East England, North West England and Yorkshire and the Humber) in England.]]

In 2014, the people within the North of England indicated in a survey by the BBC that there was a greater wish for devolution of some powers at least. The survey indicated that 85% of people in the North wanted control of policing, taxation and education handed over to the region.{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29900474|title=North East Poll Backs Move of Powers to Local Areas|date=5 November 2014|publisher=BBC News}} There is also a perceived continuing widening of the North-South divide, which continues to highlight the issue to people living in the North.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/independent-north-england-devolution-yorkshire-manchester-north-east-b1481784.html|title=An independent north? What an England severed in two might look like|last=Drury|first=Colin|date=3 November 2020|work=The Independent}}{{cite journal|last1=Shaw|first1=Keith|last2=Robinson|first2=Fred|last3=Blackie|first3=Jonathan|date=13 June 2014|title=Borderlands: Rescaling economic development in Northern England in the context of greater Scottish autonomy|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269094214537959|journal=Local Economy|volume=29|issue=4–5|pages=412–428|language=en|doi=10.1177/0269094214537959|s2cid=154321008 }} Government policy relating to the COVID-19 pandemic also created tension between the North and the UK Government, which gave rise to some discussion of a separate region as a way of giving more say to the area.{{cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7aadq/north-of-england-independence-devolution|title=How the North of England Could Gain Independence|last=Rymajdo|first=Kamila|work=Vice|date=5 November 2020}}

Various parties have been formed to test the issues in elections, including the North East Party in 2014{{cite news|last=Robson|first=Ian|date=27 May 2014|title=North-east devolution? We could be like Plaid Cymru says new party's leader|url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/north-east-party-launches-7175897|access-date=5 March 2021|work=TeessideLive|language=en}} and the Northern Party in 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2015-england-32167718|title=The Northern Party: New party targets Lancashire seats|last=Rider|first=Chris|date=2 April 2015|publisher=BBC News}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/the-northerner/2015/apr/02/ex-tory-mp-forms-the-northern-party|title=Ex Tory MP Forms the Northern Party|last=Woods|first=Lauren|date=2 April 2015|work=The Guardian}} The Yorkshire Party looks specifically at the issue of a devolved assembly for Yorkshire.

Smaller movements exist in Liverpool and Doncaster.{{cite journal|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2020/10/how-liverpool-s-covid-19-lockdown-stoking-dreams-independence|title=How Liverpool's Covid-19 lockdown is stoking dreams of independence|journal=New Statesman|first=Jonny|last=Ball|date=16 October 2020|accessdate=9 December 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Thorp |first=Liam |date=2023-04-23 |title=Who are Liberate Liverpool and what do they stand for |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/who-liberate-liverpool-what-stand-26752357 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Liverpool Echo |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Post |first=The |title='This is heart-breaking. Everyone should read this' |url=https://www.livpost.co.uk/p/this-is-heart-breaking-everyone-should |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=www.livpost.co.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Liverpool Community Independents |url=https://lciparty.org/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |language=en-US}}

The sonoric landscape of spoken Scouse extends beyond contemporary political and geographic boundaries of the City of Liverpool and instead extends to Merseyside as a whole.{{Cite journal |last=Boland |first=Philip |date=2010 |title=Sonic Geography, Place and Race in the Formation of Local Identity: Liverpool and Scousers |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40835383 |journal=Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography |volume=92 |issue=1 |pages=1–22 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-0467.2010.00330.x |jstor=40835383 |s2cid=144896001 |issn=0435-3684}}{{Cite web |url=https://academic.oup.com/liverpool-scholarship-online/book/13588/chapter-abstract/167139581?redirectedFrom=fulltext |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=academic.oup.com}} An estimated three-quarters of Liverpudlians have Irish ancestry{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}, causing some to identify more strongly as Scouse or Irish than English. In 1885, the historic constituency Liverpool Scotland elected an Irish Nationalist, T. P. O'Connor, as their MP, and 59% voted remain in the 2016 EU referendum.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.ft.com/content/b362aa48-6875-11ea-a3c9-1fe6fedcca75|title=Liverpool holds fast to its Irish identity through Brexit and beyond|journal=Financial Times|first=Andy|last=Bounds|date=19 March 2020|accessdate=9 December 2020}} #ScouseNotEnglish trended on Twitter following the result of the 2019 general election as Merseyside constituencies had some of the highest Labour vote shares in the country.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/scouse-not-english-how-merseyside-17420602|title='Scouse not English' goes viral as Merseyside remains defiant after the election|first=Charlotte|last=Hadfield|date=14 December 2019|journal=Liverpool Echo|accessdate=9 December 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Emma |date=2019-12-13 |title=Liverpool calls for independence from UK as Scousers slam England after Tory win |url=https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/liverpool-calls-independence-uk-scousers-21094033 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Daily Star |language=en}} The phrase "Scouse not English" resonates strongly in Liverpool, reflecting a unique identity and heritage that has fuelled a growing debate on the possibility of the city achieving independence from the rest of England. This divisive discourse, influenced by historical sentiments and contemporary political differences, has gained traction on social media, prompting discussions on whether Liverpool should pursue autonomy through a referendum.{{Cite web |last=Curran |first=Aaron |date=2022-07-02 |title='Scouse not English' as hundreds divided over independence |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/scouse-not-english-hundreds-divided-24380941 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Liverpool Echo |language=en}}

"Liverpool has historically perceived itself as distinct from the rest of the country, sharing more similarities with Belfast and Glasgow than with London. With a significant Irish influx and its status as a port city, Liverpool has maintained international ties, looking towards America and Ireland rather than London."{{Cite web |last=Couple |title=Liverpool – The Foreign City – Independent Liverpool |url=https://independent-liverpool.co.uk/blog/liverpool-the-foreign-city/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=history Archives |url=https://www.liverpoolirishfestival.com/tag/history/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Liverpool Irish Festival |language=en-GB}} The "Make Liverpool/Merseyside an independent state which remains in the EU" petition was submitted on 28 February 2017 during the 2015–2017 Conservative government. The petition aimed to advocate for the independence of Merseyside and its desire to remain in the European Union following the Brexit referendum, however, was rejected by the UK Government and Parliament.

Thirty years ago, amidst economic decline and political discontent, left-wing factions in Liverpool sought to break away from the UK, driven by opposition to Margaret Thatcher's policies. Fuelled by economic struggles—Liverpool lost 80,000 jobs between 1972 and 1982—the city's Labour council, led by the Militant Tendency, embarked on radical socialist initiatives. Despite a brief infusion of funds from the government, the council's request for continued support was denied, intensifying the city's sense of alienation. The episode, marked by political turbulence and anti-Militant sentiment, serves as a historical backdrop to contemporary discussions on regional autonomy within the UK.{{Cite news |date=2014-11-08 |title=The English city that wanted to 'break away' from the UK |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-29953611 |access-date=2023-12-21}}

Beginning close to the time of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, it became a topic of discussion across British news outlets that Doncaster has a claim to belonging to Scotland as opposed to England, by technicality. This originates from the 1136 and 1139 Treaties of Durham, in which David I of Scotland and his son Henry were granted the Lordship of Doncaster by Stephen of England to dissuade David from invading England. Historians observed that no known agreement in writing ever returned to Doncaster to England, unlike other territory offered from the north by Stephen, which is more commonly documented as being returned as a condition of the 1157 Treaty of Chester.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-12 |title=Why an historical anomaly means 'Bonny Donny' could leave the UK too |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11104004/Why-an-historical-anomaly-means-Bonny-Donny-could-leave-the-UK-too.html |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=The Telegraph |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-12 |title=The 'Scottish' town stranded in England |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20211019-the-scottish-town-stranded-in-england |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=BBC Travel |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-12 |title=Malcolm IV |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Malcolm-IV |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en-GB}} Despite Scotland remaining in the United Kingdom after the 2014 referendum did not win a majority vote, the claim popularised the idea of Doncaster joining Scotland in the future event of independence to the extent that on 8th October 2020, and again on 29th March 2022, petitions were submitted to the UK Parliament petitions website titled "Affirm that Doncaster is legally part of Scotland" and "Honour Scotland's claim on Doncaster by giving them power over Doncaster". In response to both on their respective webpages, Parliament confirmed that in the event of another Scottish independence referendum, the UK Government would allow Doncaster a local referendum on leaving the United Kingdom to join the new independent Scotland as an exclave if it was demanded by petition first, provided that an independent Scotland consented to taking the city's territory on top of a majority "Yes" vote. It was only not specified whether this would be applied to Doncaster itself, or all of the wider Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster, covering separate towns such as Dunscroft/Hatfield and Mexborough. Just eight months after the second petition was submitted, the borough acquired city status.

In 2020 a new party, the Northern Independence Party (NIP) was formed on making the North of England independent of the South, much like the SNP seeks an independent Scotland.{{cite news|last=Hackett|first=John|date=19 November 2020|title=The end of the UK? How broken promises are fuelling a new nationalism in the North|url=https://yorkshirebylines.co.uk/the-end-of-the-uk-how-broken-promises-are-fuelling-a-new-nationalism-in-the-north/|access-date=20 February 2021|website=Yorkshire Bylines|language=en-GB}} The NIP was formed in order to contest the 2024 general election,{{cite web|last=Duden|first=Luke|date=17 December 2020|title=Northern Independence Party claims it has support of thousands of voters|url=http://www.sr-news.com/2020/12/17/northern-independence-party-claims-it-has-support-of-thousands-of-voters/|access-date=20 February 2021|website=SR News|language=en-GB}} its goal being to establish an independent country in the North of England, based on historic Northumbria.{{cite web|url=https://www.redpepper.org.uk/the-case-for-northern-independence/|title=The case for Northern independence|author=Northern Independence Party|date=12 November 2020|website=Red Pepper|access-date=20 February 2021|language=en-US}} While the NIP have nominated York as a proposed capital of an independent Northern England,{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18873256.county-durham-man-leads-new-party-making-case-northern-independence/|title='It doesn't have to be grim up North': New party calls for Northern Independence|last=Lockwood|first=Tasmin|date=16 November 2020|work=The Northern Echo|accessdate=21 November 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/politics/northern-independence-party-new-campaign-independent-north-england-explained-3019241|title=Northern Independence Party New Campaign for Independent North-England Explained|last=Stone|first=Ethan|date=29 October 2020|work=Sunderland Echo}} Manchester and Liverpool have also been raised as options.

{{Expand section|date=January 2021}}

As well as devolution to the North of England as a whole, there have also been proposals for devolution to regions within the North.{{cite web|last=Travers|first=Tony|date=3 February 2021|title=Devolution in England|url=https://ukandeu.ac.uk/devolution-in-england/|access-date=24 February 2021|website=UK in a changing Europe|language=en-GB}}{{cite web|last=Edgar|first=Laura|date=5 August 2019|title=100% devolution called for in the North|url=https://www.theplanner.co.uk/news/100-devolution-called-for-in-the-north|access-date=24 February 2021|website=The Planner}}

{{Multiple image

| align =

| direction =

| total_width = 340

| image1 = Yorkshire UK 1851 locator map.svg

| alt1 =

| caption1 =

| image2 = Yorkshire UK locator map.svg

| caption2 =

| footer = Historic extent (left) and modern definition (right) of Yorkshire

| image3 =

}}

Due both to its size and regional identity, there has existed a Yorkshire Devolution movement, promoting a regionalist form of government for Yorkshire. In 2014, the Yorkshire First Party, later rebranded as the Yorkshire Party, was founded. In recent years, some devolved institutions have been set up in parts of Yorkshire, but none exist across the whole region.

Currently South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire{{Cite web |date=2024-05-03 |title=Labour wins York and North Yorkshire mayoral election |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clm3vrk18exo |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} have devolved Combined Authorities, with the Sheffield City Region and West Yorkshire Combined Authorities set up in 2014, as well as the Tees Valley Combined Authority covering parts of North Yorkshire. There has also been a campaign for a single "One Yorkshire" Combined Authority and elected Mayor, covering the entirety of Yorkshire.{{cite web|author=Web Services|title=One Yorkshire devolution|url=https://www.york.gov.uk/council/one-yorkshire-devolution/1|access-date=2020-08-13|website=City of York Council|language=en|archive-date=14 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814052250/https://www.york.gov.uk/council/one-yorkshire-devolution/1|url-status=dead}} This was supported eighteen of the twenty two Yorkshire local authorities, as well as Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region;{{cite web|last=Meadowcroft|first=Michael|date=4 June 2020|title=One Yorkshire devolution dream should not be abandoned: Michael Meadowcroft|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/one-yorkshire-devolution-dream-should-not-be-abandoned-michael-meadowcroft-2873721|access-date=13 August 2020|website=The Yorkshire Post|language=en}} Sheffield and Rotherham councils preferred the South Yorkshire alternative, whilst several North Yorkshire councils were already part of the Tees Valley Combined Authority. A proposal was submitted to the government in March 2018,{{cite web|title=Yorkshire Devolution Agreement Submission|url=https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/1089/yorkshire-devolution-agreement-submission|website=york.gov.uk}} but was rejected by the government in February 2019.{{Cite news|date=2019-02-12|title=Government rejects Yorkshire devolution|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-47214592|access-date=2020-08-13}} Subsequent to the rejection of the One Yorkshire Combined Authority, despite support continuing for it, new proposals have been made for an East Yorkshire and Combined Authority.

{{Multiple image

| align =

| direction =

| total_width = 340

| image1 = Northumberland and County Durham location map.svg

| alt1 =

| caption1 =

| image2 = North East England in England.svg

| caption2 =

| footer = Historic Northumberland and County Durham (left) and modern North East England (right)

| image3 =

}}

North East England was offered a referendum on devolution in 2004, however, voters rejected the proposal by a margin of 77.9% to 22.1%, on a turnout of 48%.

More recently, the issue of North East devolution has resurfaced with the establishment of the North East Party in 2014. The party, which is commonly viewed as a sister party of the Yorkshire party, campaigns for a devolved regional government in the North East with powers comparable to those of the nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and has gained four elected councillors on Durham County Council.{{Cite web|date=24 March 2021|title=Durham local election results 2021: How every candidate scored|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/durham-county-council-local-elections-20410511|access-date=10 April 2021|website=chroniclelive.co.uk}}

• English devolution
• Federalism in the United Kingdom
• North East Party
• Northern Independence Party

{{Reflist}}

Category:Northern England

Category:Devolution in the United Kingdom