INDEPENDENT Cllr. Neil Johnson is calling for opposition members of Warrington Borough Council to put their political differences to one side and present an “anti-devolution coalition” ahead of the next set of local elections in 2028.
Last month, Warrington Borough Council voted to progress a devolution arrangement with Cheshire West and Cheshire East councils. But while the Labour Group and a majority of Liberal Democrats voted in favour, the move was opposed by the Conservatives, Reform UK, and three of the town’s Independents.
Although the devolution arrangements will involve the election of a Cheshire Mayor, Cllr Johnson says that the scheme is not a “done deal” and that the town cannot be “locked in for life”.
Now, Cllr. Johnson is calling on opponents of the plan to remain united and make a public commitment to reverse the plans after the next elections. He is also encouraging opponents of the plans to explore the use of a public petition to force the Council to hold a referendum on the Cheshire deal.
A valid petition signed by at least 5% of local government electors can force the council to hold a referendum.
Cllr Johnson says:”Labour’s Surrender Deal will introduce another layer of bureaucracy and force Warrington to hand over powers to leafy Cheshire on the promise of money that will never materialise. Governments and policies change. There is no guarantee that a 30-year plan will come to fruition and nothing to compel future governments to stick to this offer.
“Devolution is a pipe dream and it allows local Councillors in Warrington to absolve themselves of blame when things go wrong. This is a deal made of smoke and mirrors, endorsed by politicians, like the town’s two Labour MPs, who have proven themselves unreliable. It is only for those with vested interests and not for the people.
“The political parties and Independents who voted against entering into a devolution deal with Cheshire must remain united and stick to their guns. Between us, we will have many political differences, but on this issue, we are as one. To that end, we should form an anti-devolution coalition and make a commitment to extricate Warrington from these arrangements as soon as possible. Becoming part of a Cheshire Combined Authority can only continue for as long as any of the participating Councils choose to remain involved. As Charlotte Nichols herself said in response to my earlier question, we are not “locked in for life”.
“In my opinion, it now looks increasingly likely that Labour will be removed from power at the Town Hall following the next elections. If that transpires, at the first Full Council meeting after those elections, the Conservatives, Reform and my fellow Independents should come together and vote to scrap the Cheshire Deal.
“My pledge to residents is this: if either of those opposition parties has a majority by themselves, or (in the event of a hung Council) can form a majority by working with the other anti-devolution members, then I will bring everyone together and table a motion which instructs the Chief Executive to initiate our withdrawal.
“Warrington should not be stuck with a third rate deal. In Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft, residents who are unhappy with the Labour’s Cheshire arrangement have coined a simple but memorable phrase: voters can stick with Labour’s surrender monkeys, or vote Neil to scrap the deal!
“That is the choice that faces every ward in the town. Do we really want to be under the thumb of Cheshire for the next 30 years?”
1 Comment
Not entirely correct – the one Tory and the one Reform Councillor abstained on the vote – which is not a vote against. There were only three Councillors who voted against.