MPs Welcome For Strong Government For Cornwall

4.59.34pm GMT Tue 23rd Jan 2007

Cornwall's five MPs endorsed today's bid for Local Government reform by Cornwall County Council, welcoming it as "A step in the right direction"

The bid seeks to take more powers from Government and to offer a better chance for parish and town councils and community networks to do more for their areas. From the beginning, the MPs made clear their view was that Cornwall should seek the creation of a single directly-elected body, taking back powers to Cornwall from unelected and regional government quangos. At the same time more local decisions would be taken in the communities concerned, centered on Cornwall's main towns, by the elected councillors in that area.

Andrew George, MP for the West Cornwall and Isles of Scilly constituency of St Ives, said, "This is a step in the right direction. MPs have discussed this matter with the Local Government Minister and his Department, and have made clear that this process in Cornwall will not just be about re-arranging the deckchairs on the leaky Titanic that is local government.

"It would not be worth Cornwall going through all of the pain and upheaval if we're not to create a strong government for Cornwall. Local councillors have in recent decades become little more than agents for central government. Many of the answers to Cornwall's problems must be determined in Cornwall and not in Whitehall."

Matthew Taylor, MP for Truro and St Austell, said:

"The decision today is a big step towards many more decisions affecting Cornwall being taken in Cornwall instead of by Government quangos. At the same time, local decisions would be taken more locally, compared to the present district councils which cover more than one town each. No longer needing the bureaucracy of seven councils in Cornwall will also mean more funds for the actual services that matter to people like schools, local transport, and support for elderly and disabled people."