Following the Autumn Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Cumbria will not be receiving as much money through the Growth Deal as had been anticipated. Cumbria had been unable to agree a devolution deal to secure more money and autonomy, it is clear from figures that other areas of the country which accepted a devolution deal have benefited greatly from the Growth Deal.
John Stevenson said:
“Following the Autumn Statement, the money Cumbria will receive from the Growth Deal was lower than the LEP expected. I believe that this was due to the fact that Labour run local authorities would not agree on a devolution package.
“I now call for local authorities, including those Labour run local authorities who refused to engage with this negotiation earlier this year, to go back to Government and begin to renegotiate a devolution deal. Cumbria should not lose out on vital funding because of differences in political parties. Everyone involved in Local Government should be in politics to make a difference to the lives of those living in the county, including my constituents in Carlisle. If individuals are letting party politics get in the way of that, perhaps they should reconsider their positions.”