Newbury MP Urges PM to Visit and Act

Newbury MP Lee Dillon has written to new PM Andy Burnham, inviting him to West Berkshire and urging a rethink of the local government funding settlement that cut West Berkshire's share of business rates from 30 pence in the pound down to 13 pence.

"That is not a marginal change, it is a structural one," said Mr Dillon. "I want to see this rebalanced so councils like mine can keep more of what they generate."

Mr Burnham wants to give more powers to regional mayors and devolve spending, but West Berkshire is not in a mayoral authority. "I support devolution in principle," said Mr Dillon. "But councils need the funding to match any new responsibility or devolution just becomes a way to pass down blame without the means to act."

Mr Dillon sent his invite less than two hours after the new PM got the keys to Downing Street.

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter