Labour and Tories divided over city devolution bid

Opposition councillors have accused a ruling Labour group of putting politics ahead of the needs of residents in its devolution bid.

Milton Keynes City Council has teamed up with neighbouring Bedford, Luton and Central Bedfordshire to enter an expression of interest to the government to form a mayoral strategic authority.

Two Northamptonshire councils were expected to be part of the bid, but the Conservative opposition leader Shazna Muzammil said if they had been included, "the chances of having a Labour mayor become very slim".

The city council's Labour leader, Pete Marland, said any suggestion it was based on anything other than what was best for Milton Keynes "is nonsense".

Discussions were held in the autumn between six councils over forming a combined authority for the South Midlands, which would enable them to work together and make decisions across normal boundaries.

An elected mayor was not part of those talks, but the government's White Paper on devolution changed that.

A joint expression of interest in an authority covering Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) has been submitted, with West and North Northamptonshire councils putting forward a separate bid that could still see a South Midlands authority being formed.

Mr Marland explained that "during discussions with the main Liberal Democrat opposition group (on MK city council) and councils within BLMK, it became clear there would be little appetite to include the Northamptonshire authorities at this time."

He added that the BLMK councils "already have excellent partnerships and connections in place" including "our long-standing joint health and care services".

However, Mrs Muzammil said the city also had "a working relationship with the Integrated Care Board in Northamptonshire" with "surgeries in the north of the Milton Keynes that rely on their services".

She added the city already had "lots of tech businesses" and should be "looking to grow that and not stunt it" and felt that if the Northamptonshire councils were involved in a devolution bid then "it would be a great opportunity for that".

The council's Liberal Democrat leader, Jane Carr, said the party welcomed devolved powers "in principle" but accepted "this will mean compromise".

Ms Carr said: "We feel the current BLMK arrangements work very well and show collaborative, strategic thinking" and "that the East West Rail project would benefit from this collaborative approach."

She added that "the issue of an elected mayor needs further thought."

Independently run Central Bedfordshire Council, which is part of the BLMK bid, has also said it is "still open to working with all interested local authorities to explore options."

The government is expected to give more details on bids on 30 January, but councils that are part of its Devolution Priority Programme could see changes, including an elected mayor, introduced as early as the May 2026 local elections.

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