Elected mayor for Cornwall, says Chancellor

THE Chancellor has announced plans to give Cornwall an elected mayor.

Jeremy Hunt confirmed in his address to Parliament that there were imminent plans to install an elected mayor in the county.

Addressing MPs with his autumn budget statement, Mr Hunt said the move was intended to ‘make it easier for local leaders to make things happen.’

Cornwall was one of four areas announced as sites for new mayors. The others are Suffolk, Norfolk and ‘an area in the North East’.

Mr Hunt said: “To unlock growth right across the country we need to make it easier for local leaders to make things happen without banging on a Whitehall door. Our brilliant mayors have shown the power of civic entrepreneurship. We need more of this brilliant local leadership.

“So today I can announce a new devolution deal that will bring an elected mayor to Suffolk and deals to bring mayors to Cornwall, Norfolk and an area in the North East to follow shortly.”

This announcement comes after the Government told Cornwall Council that the county will have to have a directly elected mayor if it is to get the highest level (level three) of devolution.

Council leader Linda Taylor confirmed in September that she and the county’s six MPs were seeking a level three deal but without having to introduce a directly elected mayor. However, that request was rejected.

Cllr Taylor has previously dismissed the idea of a referendum to elect a mayor on the grounds it would cost too much.