On Wednesday 14 October, Kevan spoke in the debate on the government’s City and Local Government Devolution Bill, where he raised a number of concerns about what this could mean for the North East.
Kevan said, “Let us imagine that a city is devolved to a Mayor or council in the north-east. Funding for further education will come with a 10% cut, just as public health spending did when it was devolved to local councils. It will then be down to local politicians to make difficult decisions, and what will be the position of the Chancellor and the Secretary of State? It will be, “It’s not our fault guv, it’s a local decision”—except that it will not be, because they will still hold the purse strings.”
You can read Kevan’s full speech here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151014/debtext/151014-0003.htm#15101446001154