A LIBERAL Democrat councillor has accused a rival party of “living in cloud cuckoo land” over its stance on unitary authorities.
Proposals have been backed by Lichfield District Council for the formation of a mid and southern Staffordshire body.
But Reform UK’s local candidates said the plans – which would replace two-tier council areas such as Staffordshire County Council and Lichfield District Council – were a “betrayal” of residents across Lichfield and Burntwood.
They said they would “oppose and frustrate” the process if elected.
But Andrew Rushton, Liberal Democrat candidate for Lichfield Rural East and a member of Lichfield District Council, said Reform’s position would decrease local power.
He said:
“The statement by the Reform UK Ltd candidates shows that they are clutching at straws.
“Their wish to continue with the current Staffordshire boundaries as the unitary authority would decrease local power rather than increasing it.
“Such an arrangement could result in planners in Leek determining the future of Sankey’s Corner in Burntwood. Or do they perhaps think that somehow they can keep Lichfield District Council and the other districts and retain the current system? If so, they are living in cloud cuckoo land.
“The accusation that the proposed southern Staffordshire authority would be merged with Birmingham is nonsense as the Leader of the District Council has already pointed out.
“We do, however, believe that the natural gravitational pull of such an authority is to the West Midlands Strategic Authority, which would give us much more say on regional housing, transport, and infrastructural matters than we enjoy at the moment.”
The Reform candidates said their views demonstrated that they were “the voice of the silenced and forgotten majority”.
But Cllr Rushton said their comments highlighted that electing them would be “a disaster”.
“The statements of the candidates representing Nigel Farage show a profound lack of knowledge when it comes to the way in which local government works.
“Putting these people into the current county council at a time when such important decisions are to be made would be a disaster.
“The Liberal Democrats have extensive local government experience nationwide and can draw on this – as of course can the other two major political groups.
“Reform UK Ltd have no such deep knowledge. Indeed, these latest pronouncements make me question whether they have any knowledge of the subject at all.”
Cllr Rushton said it was important that the best interest of residents was key to a unitary authority switch.
He said:
“The position of the Lichfield Liberal Democrats is that while the move to unitary authorities is in many ways a move towards better local government, it brings a new set of issues with it – and the order from London that this greatest change in half a century is to be made in a matter of only a few years is far from welcome.
“Nonetheless, we will work with other political groupings, taking the needs of individual communities into account, to ensure the best outcome for all residents, urban and rural.
“If elected to the county council, I will work in the interests of Lichfield district to bring about a workable and fair solution to this problem that has been set before us.”
Candidates standing in the Lichfield Rural East division are:
- Alan White (Conservatives)
- Tracey Dougherty (Reform)
- Jenny Mackintosh (Labour)
- Andrew Rushton (Lib Dem)
I must say that was my first thought, that Councillors from other areas would end up making decisions about another area they know nothing about. We would end up having no control at the local level !