Ben Bradley wants the level up bill passed as soon as possible. Photo: Robert Rathbone/Evening Standard/eyyevine
Ulez-style zones are hurting the economy, Red Wall MP Ben Bradley said today as he announces his candidacy for the first mayor of the East Midlands.
In an exclusive Online op-ed for The Telegraph, Mansfield's Conservative MP says such measures were counterproductive in a cost-of-living crisis, as they charged people to go to work and kept the poorest off the road.
“I will never put charges and restrictions on people's lives like Labor mayors did,” he says in an article announcing his candidacy, which has already been supported by 14 out of 17 East Midlands MPs.
Mr Bradley, the former leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, also called for a devolution of power to the East Midlands to give it the power to cut taxes.
He suggested that this would increase the mayor's local government accountability by granting they have the authority to reduce the burden on municipal taxpayers and businesses. will be established with control over adult education to improve skills and transport infrastructure.
Mr Bradley urged ministers to expedite the passage of the bill so that the £1.14bn devolution deal could be put in place before the next election. a trap,” allowing devolution to be defined by left-wing politicians who impose “highly unpopular” measures on the population, such as ultra-low emission zones that are “harmful to workers and the economy.”
“Unless the Level Up Bill empowers the East Midlands to the same degree as areas like London and Manchester, these Labor politicians will continue to pursue Ulez-like policies that we know are bad for workers and the economy. , and the Conservative Party will get the blame for the impact of dominoes on people's lives,” he said.
“We will not support people with these cost of living issues by charging people to go to work and charging the poorest. For the East Midlands, this would simply cut off people, and in some cases entire communities, from employment and leisure opportunities.
“The transfer of power from Whitehall to our regions cannot simply mean that this is a different set of policies intervening in life of my constituents, making life difficult for them.
“Devolution and leveling up should lead to more freedom and less politics, more opportunities and fewer restrictions – this is the only way to prosper. Helping the East Midlands move away from the Whitehall begging bowl model and allowing us to tackle our own priorities with long-term funding is a game changer.
“We can finally have an integrated public transport network. it could be a real alternative to the daily commute.”
Devolution and promotion would be my priorities as Mayor of the East Midlands
Ben Bradley MP for Mansfield
There is no doubt that Boris Johnson caught the East Midlands vibe when he promised to “level up” our region and reduce regional disparities in 2019.
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For years, no region in the UK has seen less investment than the East Midlands. We are the region with the second largest export business, the lowest capital investment per person in the UK and a declining level of foreign investment. This can be fixed, but for that the East Midlands needs two things from the government.
First, we need the Level Up Bill to become law so that the £1.14bn transfer deal can be powered by investments in jobs, transport and education.
Time is running out for the next election, and if we are to show results on the cusp and show how conservatism benefits jobs, families, local investment and businesses, these powers must be given to East Midlanders immediately. I urge ministers to expedite consideration of this bill.
The second and more important step is for us to fully implement the East Midlands devolution agreement, otherwise we risk falling further behind London and Manchester. If “leveling up” means anything, it must mean that the region with the least funding is accelerating faster to catch up with such powers and funding.
I am delighted that this weekend I will announce my candidacy for the first mayor of the East Midlands in May 2024 so that I can continue the fight to make this happen.
Devolution offers so many opportunities, but we certainly not a devolution, which creates more bureaucracy and higher bills for taxpayers. Instead, we need a system that communicates solutions to local people, because they know better than anyone in Whitehall how to improve their communities.
It seems that after the pandemic, the country has moved to the left. We have the highest tax burden since the Second World War, and government spending is about 45% of the economy.
In London, Sadiq Khan's leadership is determined by left-wing views, which the state knows best. This is driven by politicians telling businesses what they can and can't advertise, ever-increasing fees and charges, and increasingly onerous regulation of driving your car.
Meanwhile, Andy Burnham's proposals for a workplace parking levy and additional taxes on cars and “clean air” are the exact opposite of what our communities need during these cost-of-living issues. Policies like Ulez are deeply unpopular socialist measures pushed by lobbying groups against the wishes of ordinary voters.
The Conservative Party must not fall into the trap of allowing English devolution to be determined by the politicians of the Left, who are least able to benefit from what he proposes.
Unless the Uplift Bill empowers the East Midlands to the same extent that areas like London and Manchester, these Labor politicians will continue to implement Ulez-like policies that we know are bad for workers and the economy, while the Conservative Party gets the blame for it. indirect impact on people's lives.
We will not support people in these cost of living issues by charging people to go to work and charging the poorest. For the East Midlands, this would simply cut off people, and in some cases entire communities, from work and leisure opportunities. The handover from Whitehall to our regions can't just mean it's a different set of politicians meddling in the lives of my constituents and making life difficult for them.
Devolution and leveling up should lead to more freedom and less politics, more opportunities and less restrictions – this is the only way to prosper. Helping the East Midlands move away from the Whitehall begging bowl model and allow us to decide our own priorities with long-term funding is a game changer.
We can finally create an integrated public transport network that will be a true alternative to the daily commute. We can offer huge investments in exciting new jobs, with the right skills and training available at our doorstep. We can focus funding where needed, such as improving the quality of our roads, rather than adding more bus and bike lanes. Local solutions, clear priorities and better results.
While I have clearly defined my immediate priorities if I became mayor, in the long term we could completely change the worldview and economy of our region if we were also given the opportunity to reduce the tax burden on the local population. Thus, the mayor can indeed be held responsible for the decision. We can ensure that devolution delivers efficiency and results, not just bureaucratic levels of management, and with truly conservative leadership, we can help local residents save more of their hard-earned money.
My commitment to the people of the East Midlands is that, as mayor, I will use this power only for their benefit, not at their expense. I will never impose such charges and restrictions on people's lives that Labor mayors did. I will never make you pay more to commute to work. If elected, I will offer freedom and choice, not restrictions and costs.
My leadership will be determined by new investments in infrastructure and opportunities for people living in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, have more opportunities and better prospects than when -ever before.
We have a once-in-a-generation chance to do something amazing in our region, and we can't let the left push politicians to use these new powers to complicate our life, as they have done elsewhere.
This is our chance – to borrow a famous phrase – to regain control. This is the next step in our conservative and national renewal. We have one chance to make the most of it for the East Midlands and offer locals new freedoms and opportunities.
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