Now a Bradford Councillor has launched a campaign to do just that. Matt Palmer, who represents Wharfedale, is running an online petition to get Parliament to PERMANENTLY relocate from Westminster. | "Bradford is a great city and there's no reason it can't have aspirations." | | Matt Palmer |
Councillor Palmer believes Bradford is a great place to work and live in, as well as to visit. Situated in the heart of the country, why shouldn't the city provide a home for British democracy? Talking to BBC Radio Leeds Councillor Palmer said: "(The petition) is an excellent idea because what we can do is to look at making decisions more locally, closer to the ground, and where the people are here in Bradford. We also have to remember Bradford is a wonderful city. There's absolutely no reason why it doesn't have the capability to host something like a Parliament? "I think it will strike a chord with some people in Yorkshire who realise a lot of the decisions made in London are made in a way without thinking of the consequences on people up here."
 | | Bradford City Hall's clock: the new Big Ben? |
But is there anywhere in Bradford which could provide Parliament with a good home? Councillor Palmer is sure there is: "Bradford has got lots of old traditional buildings. At the moment it's doing a huge amount of regeneration work and I am sure we can find a way to fit it in somewhere." Councillor Palmer stressed that by launching the petition he is making a very serious point: "First, decisions are made remotely in London and it would be a lot more sensible if they took in some of the more down-to-earth ideas of people in Bradford. Second, Bradford is a great city and there's no reason it can't have aspirations." Go to bradfordparliament.com to find out more about the petition. | 
