From Keighley News, 10th October 2017
Written by David Knights
KEIGHLEY MP John Grogan is backing top-level demands for Yorkshire to receive devolved powers and a £150 million annual budget. He this week called a debate in Parliament in support of 17 Yorkshire councils who are calling for a deal covering most of the county and involving a new elected mayor.
Mr Grogan, secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary group for Yorkshire, said a so-called One Yorkshire deal would create the second powerful mayor in the UK after Sadiq Khan in London.
He said: “I do think we are in danger of losing out to places with mayors, like Manchester and the West Midlands, who are now very strong advocates for their areas.
Mr Grogan said council leaders were seeking a meeting with Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry to discuss the proposals.
Ministers have in the past poured cold water on the idea of the deal covering the whole of Yorkshire.