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The concept of regional assemblies is not new. George Lansbury, the Christian socialist leader of the Labour Party, advocated them in the 1930s. The issue is again being seriously debated. Critics argue that Britain is already overloaded with bureaucracy, regulation and public expenditure and that another layer of government would make matters worse.

My starting point is that government should be democratic and as close as possible to the people whose lives are moulded by major decision-making. So I am in favour of regional assemblies.

By regional assemblies I do not mean appointed quangos. Rather they must be elected bodies with the powers and resources to legislate for their region. In particular, they should establish an economic strategy and shape services such as housing, social work, youth work and health which would be administered by the next layer of local government. The assemblies would be financed by central government but also have powers to raise revenue through local taxation.

The assemblies would have the potential to improve local services simply because they would be financially powerful while simultaneously able to respond to the needs of their area. Within each region, services might well develop on different lines so offering diversity throughout the country with one region able to learn from another. Moreover, they could do much to reduce the centralism of Britain, a centralism based on the Westminster parliament, the London-based civil service and southern financial institutions. As regions grew in importance so the media's obsession with London would be lessened and proper recognition given to the contributions of places outside the South East.

My thinking on regionalism has been influenced by the experience of living in Scotland. Of course, Scotland (like Wales) does not have a regional assembly, it has a national parliament.

There are aspects of the Scottish cultures which are admirable, but nationalism with its ugly aggressiveness is to be deplored. I prefer regional assemblies to national devolved parliaments. Thus Scotland might have two assemblies, one in the Highlands and one in its south with the latter taking in part of the north of England.

This said, the establishment of the Scottish parliament has brought government nearer to voters. The complaint that Scotland was an English colony ruled by Oxbridge civil servants is now rarely heard. Instead, members of the Scottish parliament can concentrate on Scottish interests and appear to be much closer to their constituents than their MP counterparts. The MSP for Ballieston (which includes Easterhouse) is a former community worker, Margaret Curran. Despite being a government minister, she is frequently in the area.


The Scottish parliament has also put social services high on the political agenda. Its policies on housing, antisocial behaviour and juvenile justice have provoked controversy but, at least, they are now mainstream issues.

A further benefit of the Scottish parliament is the system whereby voters have a second vote. This has meant that minority parties, like the Greens, are represented. The Scottish Socialist Party, led by Tommy Sheridan, voices the kind of socialism which is not heard at Westminster. Moreover, Sheridan puts principles into practice by refusing to take his full salary.

Sure, the Scottish Parliament has had the Holyrood fiasco in which millions have been wasted on a new parliamentary building. But it has shown that a smaller political unit can be closer to the people and provide a voice for minorities.

So I want regional assemblies but with a couple of provisos. One is that they should cover the whole country including London. This would create something akin to a federal system in which all citizens have the same kind of votes.

The other is that they should not take the Commons as their model. Many MPs now regard politics as a career option rather than as a means to serve society. Of late, MPs have voted to use public money to increase their already high salaries, to add to their substantial perks, to improve their generous pensions, and to have financial compensation for ministers leaving office. No wonder the culture of greed abounds. Members of regional assemblies should receive no more than the average income. They would then attract people who want to serve others.

Bob Holman is the author of Champions for Children: The Lives of Modern Child Care Pioneers, Policy Press, 2001.