A true voice: a Yorkshire parliament for Yorkshire people

As the region celebrates Yorkshire Day, the Yorkshire Party's John Hall briefly reflects on devolution now and devolution needed

By John Hall, an executive member and former treasurer of the Yorkshire Party

As we mark Yorkshire Day, the Yorkshire Party celebrates our county's proud heritage, resilience and diversity – this is, after all, a region rich in history, culture, and untapped potential.

But while we honour the past, we must also look to the future. The current devolution settlement for Yorkshire is half-baked. Instead of a united, empowered region with a clear voice, we have a patchwork of mayors and combined authorities operating under limited powers across competing structures.

The White Rose Agreement, for instance, brings together the three Yorkshire mayors – West Yorkshire’s Tracy Brabin, York and North Yorkshire’s David Skaith and South Yorkshire’s Oliver Coppard – but falls far short of what Yorkshire truly needs.

Yorkshire deserves better. We are a region with 5.4 million people, nearly matching Scotland's 5.5 million, with an economy comparable to many European countries. Yet key decisions about our transport, housing, economy, and public services are still made in Westminster – in London.

That's why the Yorkshire Party calls for a directly elected Yorkshire regional parliament, a dedicated body with real legislative powers and democratic accountability.

This would see:

• A unified leadership for the whole of Yorkshire

• Powers over transport, housing, skills, healthcare, economic planning and the environment (all shaped by local needs)

• A stronger voice for Yorkshire on the national and international stage

• Better joined-up governance, replacing fragmented devolution with a clear, efficient structure

• Investment decisions made by Yorkshire, for Yorkshire

Enough of piecemeal powers. Enough of being told what's good for us by distant politicians. Yorkshire deserves the same level of devolution as Scotland, Wales, and London.

So, this Yorkshire Day, let's not simply wave the White Rose. Let's raise it high as a symbol of ambition and self-determination. Let's demand what we know is right – a parliament for Yorkshire, elected by and accountable to the people of Yorkshire.

We may not yet have got the recognition and government that Yorkshire deserves, but Yorkshire Day shows us that the spirit of Yorkshire is still very much alive and will prevail.

Happy Yorkshire Day to you all.