'We won't force councils to become CAs' says Benn

摘要

Councils reluctant to form combined authorities will not be forced into the move, shadow communities secretary Hilary Benn has told The MJ in an exclusive interview. Mr Benn insisted a Labour government would not compel local authorities to join together in combined authorities and pledged there would be no top-down Whitehall intervention to sort out disputes. The recent deal between the Greater Manchester and the Government prompted a flurry of combined authority announcements but many councils remain reluctant, with some counties, in particular, understood to be concerned about the resulting loss of power.