Carolyn Fairbairn calls for action to boost prosperity in the region.
In a speech at the Yorkshire and Humber Annual Dinner, Carolyn urged members, politicians and local leaders in the room to look past Brexit and focus on what needed to happen to ensure the region remained a hub of imagination, innovation and ingenuity.
She called for more action – rather than just talk – on devolution.
“We know that decisions are best taken by those most impacted by them. Yet the UK remains one of the most power-centralised countries in Europe,” she explained.
“And frankly, with government distracted by Brexit, we can now see the disadvantages of over-centralisation more clearly than ever. It’s a simple question of bandwidth. Yet despite this indisputable truth, progress towards devolution remains frustratingly slow.”
She referred to the CBI’s latest report, Powering up places, which sets out three steps that government should take in order to kickstart devolution and maximise the potential of English regions.
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