Opposition to a controversial proposal for a new executive mayor for Cornwall—described by one resident as a “near dictatorship”—has derailed a £360 million “devolution deal” brokered between the UK government and Tory-run council.
The Department for Levelling Up had said the “historic” arrangement would see almost half of England covered by a “devolution deal.”
But the delayed announcement of results from a 10-week public consultation involving events in Cornish town halls, markets, schools and colleges, and online, revealed 69 percent were against it and just 25 percent in favour.
As recently as January, the leader of Cornwall’s unitary council, Linda Taylor, urged acceptance in a statement on its website, warning: “If we reject the deal, we won’t get this funding. No mayor, no £360m.”…