Yorkshire Party

16/10/2026

https://medium.com/.yorkshirealliance/so-lloyds-bank-has-decided-to-drop-the-name-halifax-846dbd9eaa99

The loss of the Halifax name is another reminder that institutions built by Yorkshire communities have been taken away from them and absorbed into a London-centred financial system.

The Yorkshire Party agrees: Yorkshire needs real economic powers, stronger mutual and community finance, and decisions made by the people who live here—not by Westminster and the City.

Building societies were not born in the glass towers of Canary Wharf or the boardrooms of the City of London. They were built on the…

22/09/2026

The Yorkshire Party supports the families and campaigners behind the School Transport Action Group (STAG) North Yorkshire.

Parents have already raised serious concerns about the way North Yorkshire’s home-to-school transport policy is working in practice. With a new consultation now under way, we hope the council will genuinely listen to those affected.

There is also a wider Yorkshire issue here.

Look at London. Children have access to a highly integrated regional transport system, with free or heavily discounted travel for school-age children across much of the network. London has a single regional transport authority, Transport for London, able to look at buses, trains, roads and other transport as part of one system.

In rural Yorkshire, by contrast, families can find themselves dealing with fragmented arrangements and difficult questions about whether their child qualifies for transport to school.

The geography is obviously different. But that is precisely the point. Rural Yorkshire needs a transport system designed around its own needs, not a collection of separate arrangements that leave councils and families trying to solve problems within boundaries that do not necessarily reflect how people actually live and travel.

We support STAG and encourage everyone affected to take part in the North Yorkshire consultation.

The Yorkshire Party believes Yorkshire needs the authority, powers and fair funding to develop a coherent transport system for the whole region.

North Yorkshire Council has launched a fresh consultation on its controversial school transport policy — prompting campaigners to question whether the authority will listen to residents this time. Parents, carers, schools and other stakeholders are [...]

17/09/2026

Yorkshire Is Being Ignored. Again.

Piece-meal devolution. Confusing boundaries. Duplicated powers. Overlapping responsibilities nobody asked for.

While other regions get clarity, Yorkshire gets scraps — a patchwork of deals that divide us instead of empowering us. We've argued for one-Yorkshire governance for years. The problem was never a lack of agreement. It was never having enough voices shouting the same thing at once.

That's why the Yorkshire Party is sharing this initiative on behalf of Devo 100+ Group, an Alliance for Yorkshire initiative. — a new coalition of 100+ influential Yorkshire voices standing behind. Stop the piecemeal deals — give Yorkshire one clear, unified voice in government and fair funding.

We also intend to follow up on a Yorkshire Water initiative.

No commitment today. Just people willing to be counted.

Before a single word goes to government, every one of the 100+ reviews signs off on it. Change your mind anytime.

Yorkshire has waited long enough. Will you help make sure we're finally heard?

Register your interest: [email protected]

03/08/2026

An excellent article by our very own Colin Speakman.

Yorkshire Day is about more than celebrating the county – it's a chance to renew the case for meaningful devolution

01/08/2026

Happy Yorkshire Day!

Today we celebrate everything that makes Yorkshire unique – our history, our landscapes, our communities and the people who make this county such a remarkable place to live and work.

With over five million people and an economy larger than many independent nations, Yorkshire has the talent, ambition and identity to shape its own future. Yet too many important decisions affecting our transport, environment, housing, economy and public services are still made elsewhere.

The Yorkshire Party believes Yorkshire deserves a stronger democratic voice and the powers to make more of its own decisions.

Yorkshire Day is not just about celebrating our proud past. It is about looking forward to a cleaner, fairer, more prosperous and more confident Yorkshire for generations to come.

Happy Yorkshire Day to everyone across God’s Own County.

Happy Yorkshire Day from the Yorkshire Party.

29/07/2026

Why regional governance could deliver greater prosperity

Britain's economy isn't just a national problem – it's a regional one. Stronger regional government could be the answer

By John Hall - Alliance for Yorkshire

Britain's economy isn't just a national problem – it's a regional one. Stronger regional government could be the answer

10/07/2026

Does the Yorkshire Party members and followers agree?

Should Yorkshire officially celebrate William the Conqueror?

Recent reports suggest that an international programme is being organised to mark the 1,000th anniversary of William the Conqueror's birth in 2027.

Normandy has every right to celebrate one of its most famous historical figures. The Channel Islands also have their own unique Norman heritage.

But Yorkshire's history is very different.

For our county, William's legacy includes the Harrying of the North, when large parts of Yorkshire were devastated following the Norman Conquest. It remains one of the darkest chapters in our history.

This is not about rewriting history or holding a grudge after nearly a thousand years. History should be studied, understood and remembered.

However, there is a difference between remembering history and officially celebrating it.

If Yorkshire's four metro mayors are ever invited to take part in these commemorations, I hope they will politely decline.

Instead, let us celebrate Yorkshire's own remarkable history, the resilience of our people, and the communities that rebuilt our county after those terrible events.

Yorkshire has much to be proud of. Let's celebrate Yorkshire.

John Hall
Alliance for Yorkshire
www.yorkshirealliance.com

William the Conqueror from the Bayeux Tapestry. Public domain image via Wikimedia Commons (faithful reproduction of an 11th-century work of art). No copyright restrictions apply.

21/06/2026

The Alliance for Yorkshire unites individuals, communities, and organisations across our great region with one clear goal: securing meaningful regional governance for Yorkshire. United by pride in our shared identity and a belief in fair funding, accountable decision-making, and powers exercised closer to the people, we are building a broad and inclusive movement to shape Yorkshire's future — by Yorkshire, for Yorkshire.

If Yorkshire were a country, it would be larger than several European nations and home to more people than many independent states. Like any nation of its size and identity, it would almost certainly have its own national football team.

So, if Yorkshire fielded a national side made up exclusively of players born within the historic county boundaries, what might that team look like? Here's one possible starting XI. What changes would you make? Who deserves a place in the squad? Players below with their place of birth. Let us know if you spot any errors.

28/05/2026

All about the Yorkshire Party

14/05/2026