The devolution report from the CLG Select Committee is spot on. It makes three key points that have been core to the debate. The public needs to be involved, and the process needs to be open; there needs to be fiscal devolution to go with devolved powers, and there needs to be clarity over the purpose, with measurable outcomes. It is preposterous that local government, which holds democracy so dearly, has failed to engage the public. It has been a short time frame and a complex issue, but there is no excuse for authorities' reluctance to show their hand and reveal their devolution asks. According to Ipsos MORI, three-quarters of the public know little or nothing about devolution. Given the fundamental shift in democracy, the public must be brought on board.
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