Local people don’t want to be run from Carlisle – MP slams Conservative Government’s positive words over centralising services

South Lakes MP Tim Farron is urging the Government to scrap plans to introduce a unitary authority for the entirety of Cumbria.

In response to a question from Wigton county councillor Lord Liddle during a debate in the House of Lords, Local Government minister Lord Bourne said that the idea for a unitary Cumbrian authority is "very much in the in-tray" and that the Government were not "ruling it out in any way".

The idea of a single unitary authority based in Carlisle for the whole of Cumbria has been backed by Conservatives on the county council.

Tim has written to the Secretary of State for Local Government James Brokenshire asking him to reject the plans.

Tim said: "A unitary authority for Cumbria would be nothing more than a multi-million-pound white elephant.

"People want the key decisions that affect them to be made by people in their local area - not 50 miles up the road in Carlisle.

"This would lead to local people losing control over how local services are run. We need to keep up the pressure so that the Government move the plan for a unitary Cumbria from their in-tray straight into the rubbish bin where it belongs."