We live in one of the most centralised systems of Government going.

Do you want to challenge a planning decision? The national Planning Inspectorate is where you need to go. Do you want to find out why the region’s water companies are getting away with legal - and some illegal - sewage spills?

That’s the responsibility of national regulators, such as OFWAT and the Environment Agency. Want to find out why we can’t use part of Seaton Hospital? NHS Property Services. You guessed it – national.

Other parts of the country are wresting more power from Whitehall and Westminster. Many city regions in the north of England and the Midlands are enjoying the fruits of devolution. We in the South West must make sure we get our fair share.

The Government is offering devolution deals. The last Government offered Devon and Torbay one such devolution deal, but given it was linked to just £16million, it doesn’t seem worth it. Devolution should come with accountability, responsibility - and resources.

I sense that businesses in the region are getting impatient. They are no longer willing for local authorities and national Government to finally agree between themselves whether or not to accept the paltry offer from the last Conservative administration. It seems that businesses are clubbing together to promote the South West region.

The South West has the potential to feed, secure and power the nation. We have some of the best farms and food businesses. We have defence industry businesses large and small. We have great prospects as a producer of clean and renewable energy in the region.

Last Friday, Exeter Chief’s rugby stadium – Sandy Park - played host to the 500 representatives of businesses, charities, local authorities and MPs from across the region to make our case to a Minister from the new Government’s Department of Business and Trade. We were pleased that she appreciated the place of tourism for Devon and Cornwall, but stressed that there is so much more that we in Devon, Dorset and Somerset can offer, that ministers and civil servants won’t see on an annual August holiday to the region.

Our competitors are other regions in England that have mayors and enjoy more thorough-going devolution from Westminster and Whitehall. The message that some of us sent back to London at the conference was – let’s power up the Great South West.