A Cheshire MP has said he wants to power-up Cheshire and Warrington by moving key decision-making away from Westminster.
Labour’s Mike Amesbury believes Cheshire and Warrington is falling behind neighbouring Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester, where combined authorities are using devolved powers to bring in billions of pounds worth of investment.
His call to action follows party leader Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that a future Labour government would hand over more powers to local communities.
Mr Amesbury says there is wide support for devolution – with Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East and Warrington councils all on board, as well as fellow Labour MPs in the area.
The move would mean Cheshire and Warrington would get an elected mayor – like Steve Rotheram in the Liverpool City Region and Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester.
They would oversee all the local authorities working together on areas such as transport, housing, the economy and the environment.
Mr Amesbury said: “Keir Starmer would make it easier for local areas to secure devolution under an incoming Labour administration.
“But I’d like to see Cheshire and Warrington get ahead of the game by agreeing a deal with the current government, as recently achieved in Cornwall and the North East.
“I continue to press ministers to make progress on that goal given the strength of local political will.
“It’s my belief this area would thrive within an arrangement that’s more about ‘our street’ than Downing Street.”
During the Tory leadership contest last summer, Liz Truss confirmed she would consider devolution for Cheshire and Warrington.
Speaking on the campaign trail in August 2022, she said: “There are far too many things that are still being decided by Whitehall diktat.
“That is the wrong decision because they don’t know what’s best, they’re too far away and it just makes things incredibly slow.”
Although she became prime minister shortly after, her tenure was infamously brief and it’s unclear to what extent devolution is a priority for Rishi Sunak’s government.
Meanwhile, Mr Amesbury highlighted public transport as being one of the things locals could see improved under such an arrangement.
Last September, Liverpool City Region’s mayor Steve Rotheram introduced £2 capped bus fares, with plans to deliver a London-style network by taking buses back under public control.
Mr Amesbury said a similar scheme in Cheshire and Warrington would make a positive difference for passengers.
He said elected representatives are best placed to set the priorities rather than Whitehall civil servants.
