Four MP's join forces to save Northumberland from NCC and Peter Hillman

MP's join forces to back two-councils campaign
Left to right: Denis Murphy, Alan Beith, Ronnie Campbell and Peter Atkinson


MP Alan Beith has warned there will could be a backlash if proposals for a single unitary authority for Northumberland are given the green light.
Mr Beith told the House of Commons last week there would be a "vigorous campaign" against the decision.All four Northumberland MPs – Mr eith, Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley, Labour) Denis Murphy (Wansbeck, Labour) and Peter Atkinson (Hexham, Conservative) – spoke in favour of the district councils' bid to set up two authorities.The plan would see a council created for the rural north and west and another for the urban south east.Northumberland County Council backs a single authority.Mr Beith said: "If the Government opts for a single authority, I confidently predict that there will be a vigorous campaign against the idea. The district councils have a mandate for such a campaign, and local organisations will want to back that campaign."On the other hand, if the Government opt for two unitary authorities, the county council will have no mandate to campaign against the proposal, as its own resolution actually supports both proposals. "Mr Beith told MPs of the support for the two-council plan and said the "one-size-fits-all approach" is not capable of "responding to the needs of the diverse communities of the county."He said: "It is a unique situation: Four MPs in three political parties are in broad agreement about the direction that Northumberland should take."I defy the Under-Secretary to find another example from the whole round of local government reorganisation in which she is so assisted by unanimity on one proposal. I hope she and her colleagues take that factor carefully into account."And Mr Beith spoke of his disappointment if local government was not reorganised in Northumberland."If, after all that, the Government said, 'Oh, it's too difficult. Let's just leave it alone', there would be a great deal of disappointment among people on all sides of the argument, and there would not be a very promising atmosphere in which to achieve an enhanced two-tier system, which is the only viable alternative," he said."It would be a system in which authorities would have to share services a great deal. I am not saying that it would be a bad thing, but it would be necessary to plan the sharing of services, staff and so on."It would require a big change of attitude in the county council and in the district councils, too. I have not seen any evidence in discussions that the county is willing to undertake such lateral thinking. All the indications – certainly everything that my three colleagues would want to propose – suggests that a two-unitary authority solution is the right way forward."Angela Smith, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Communities and Local Government, said: "I congratulate the Right Hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed on securing the debate on what is
obviously a key issue for the people of Northumberland. I appreciate the strong feelings that have been expressed. There are few occasions in the House when all three parties agree and it is a rare opportunity for a Minister to respond to such a debate."She added: "Consultation is now under way and judgments will be made about which part of the proposals will go forward, if either go forward, on the basis of that consultation and subsequent evaluation and judgment."After the stakeholder consultation, we will need to consider carefully all the representations that we have received. All the information provided to ministers will be considered in the course of the examination of the issues."I want to give an assurance to the four MPs who are here in the chamber that the views that they have expressed today will be taken into account, but they might wish to make formal submissions as well."
Last Updated: 21 May 2007