Some Suffolk MPs have been left 'disappointed' by the scrapping of the county's devolution deal, while others hope a review of the scheme would see it go further.
Last week, Suffolk County Council announced its devolution deal, worth more than £500million over 30 years, had been scrapped by the new government.
The new government has stated it would continue discussions for ‘ambitious devolution’ and ‘alternative models’.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said devolution remained central to the government’s ‘mission to economic growth’ in which powers are taken away from Westminster and put into the hands of local leaders ‘who know their area best’.
They added: “This government strongly believes mayors should have a unique role, while council leaders must continue to focus on the delivery of the essential services.
“We want to see those two functions kept separate as this benefits the community and its people, which is why we will not be proceeding with the Single Local Authority mayoral deals proposed in Norfolk and Suffolk."
The decision has sparked a range of opinions from Suffolk’s MPs.
Nick Timothy, Conservative MP for West Suffolk, said the decision, alongside taking away winter fuel payments from many across the county, showed the government did not listen to residents and meant ministers considered Suffolk ‘second-class communities compared to the big cities and Labour heartlands’.
He added: “This is an insult to the people of Suffolk. This abrupt decision — which overrides the views of local residents, who responded to the consultation on the devolution deal with enthusiasm — means less investment in our future.
“All the promises Labour made before the election, about listening to residents and decentralising power, sound completely hollow today.”
In South Suffolk, James Cartlidge said he felt his constituents were being ignored.
“We have lost half a billion pounds to a government that promised more devolution – not less," he said.
"But Suffolk now has four Labour MPs. I hope they still stand up to the government and resist this change because surely they weren’t elected with the expectation that our people would be treated as second-class citizens.”
Suffolk’s Labour MPs have welcomed the decision, stressing the deal, as it stood, was not good enough.
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, for Suffolk Coastal, said: “I have received reassurances from the government that there remains a full commitment to delivering devolution in Suffolk – in a way that delivers the best outcomes for our communities.
“The current proposals did not go far enough and there is more work that needs to be done to ensure that the right powers are devolved locally, in a way that will materially benefit Suffolk.”
Lowestoft’s new MP, Jess Asato, said: “The deal put on the table by the previous Conservative government short-changed Suffolk.
“We have to be much more ambitious for Suffolk – I believe we deserve our fair share – so it is welcome that the new Government will review this devolution settlement and come back with a proper agreement that values our great county.”
In Ipswich, Jack Abbott has long criticised the scope of the agreed deal under the last government.
He said: “The reality is, the deal put on the table by the previous Conservative Government short-changed Suffolk and created a bizarre political settlement.
“I’m much more ambitious for Suffolk – I believe we deserve our fair share – so it is welcome that the new Government will review this devolution settlement and come back with a proper agreement that values our great county.”
Under the now-scrapped deal, the leader of the county council would be directly elected by residents rather than county councillors — under this model, however, Suffolk would not have a mayor like other devolved counties.
It is unclear, however, what more ‘ambition’ would mean and how it would be funded.
In the new Waveney Valley constituency, Adrian Ramsay, the East of England’s only Green MP, said: “It’s very disappointing that the Government has scrapped the planned devolution deals for Suffolk and Norfolk without putting anything in their place.
“While the deals did not go anywhere near far enough with the funding and powers needed to make a major difference locally, the devolution question must not now be put on the back burner.
“I call on the government to engage with Suffolk and Norfolk on a deal that will really deliver for our communities.”
MPs Peter Prinsley and Patrick Spencer were approached for a comment.
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