Burnham’s devolution deal risks “leaving Shropshire behind” warn local Lib Dem leaders

Local Lib Dem leaders have warned Prime Minister Andy Burnham that his devolution vision risks creating a left-behind Britain, with counties like Shropshire and other areas without metro mayors set to lose out. 

North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan, Shropshire Council Leader Heather Kidd, and parliamentary candidate for South Shropshire Matthew Green have raised concerns that new plans to give areas with a mayor additional income tax powers or revenues risk deepening an already stark divide. 

Government figures already show a significant gap between areas with and without a metro-mayor. Areas with mayors receive over nine times more in capacity funding than foundation authorities, £2.26 million compared to £250,000 in 2026-27. Areas in the Devolution Priority Programme, designed to bring a form of devolution to more areas across England, announced by the Government last year, receive investment fund allocations of between £11 million and £44 million per year. 

Under Burnham’s new proposals, regions with a mayor would be able to keep a proportion of revenue in the area it is raised, funding public transport, infrastructure improvements and local business growth. This means areas without a mayor face falling even further behind. 

Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire Helen Morgan said: 

“The Liberal Democrats have long championed the devolution of power to local communities. But these plans from Andy Burnham risk leaving large parts of the country behind, including Shropshire, while areas with mayors pull further ahead. 

“The Government’s own figures show that areas without a mayor already receive only a fraction of the funding available to strategic mayoral authorities - and Burnham’s proposal to allocate to mayors a portion of revenue raised in their areas will widen that gap”. 

Shropshire Council Leader Heather Kidd added: 

“Shropshire Council is working hard to attract investment and generate economic growth. This includes working towards partnership with neighbouring local authorities, as our economic future is closely linked to the wider West Midlands, particularly along the M54 corridor. But without the same powers, funding and opportunities available to mayors, the challenge will be that much harder. There is a real risk that the government’s current proposals will relegate places like Shropshire to second tier status.” 

Lib Dem candidate for South Shropshire Matthew Green said:

“If the Prime Minister is serious about creating “good growth in every postcode” he should rethink his devolution plans, to make sure that all areas, including Shropshire, benefit from devolving power out of Westminster, not just those with metro mayors.”