‘Outrageous’ blast at potential Devon election delay

Calling off May’s elections for seats on Devon County Council would be ‘outrageous and despicable’, according to half a dozen of the county’s members of parliament.

Liberal Democrat MPs today blasted the Conservative group on the county council for their suggestion that local elections in the spring could be postponed while the complicated devolution process progresses.
The government proposes to change the way councils are structured, and meetings are taking place across the county this week as local councils formulate their responses, which have to be submitted by Friday.
Devon County Council was due to meet today (Thursday 9 January) to discuss the shake-up, which could mean the county being governed by a single large council, potentially led by a powerful elected mayor.
Some smaller councils have already come out against the proposal. Others have yet to meet, but district council leaders across the county have also penned an open letter voicing their opposition.
Speaking on behalf of Devon’s Liberal Democrat MPs, Martin Wrigley, MP for Newton Abbot, said: “This is an outrageous and despicable attempt from the Conservative group on Devon County Council to steal democracy away from the people of this county. 
“Since the last time county elections were held, the political landscape of Devon has changed drastically at every level. 
“To cancel these elections would be silencing thousands of voters who deserve to have their voices heard, risking hardworking people being forced to live with a flatlining county council that does not reflect their views.”
On the government’s devolution plans for Devon, Caroline Voaden, Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon added: “Whitehall is in no position to dictate what is best for local areas. Any reorganisation must involve consultation at both county and district level.
“Devolution is supposed to bring power closer to people, but the suggestion from Devon County of a single unitary council is exactly the opposite. 
“While there is definitely a case for simplifying the structure of local government, a one-size-fits-all approach for a county that needs to cater to the needs of rural, urban and coastal communities will not work.
“Devolution must reflect the needs of our unique corner of the country.”
The other Liberal Democrat MPs in Devon also objecting to calls to postpone May’s local elections are Steve Darling (Torbay),  Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth), Rachel Gilmore (Tiverton and Minehead) and Ian Roome (North Devon).