The UK Government has decided to establish a Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Strategic Authority, foregoing proposals for a broader six-council South Midlands Strategic Authority that would have included West and North Northamptonshire. This decision has raised concerns among local leaders, particularly the Leader of West Northamptonshire Council, Mark Arnull, who has called for greater transparency and questioned the exclusion of Northamptonshire despite its economic ties to the region.
Councillor Arnull emphasised shared transport links, employment markets, and investment opportunities connecting Northamptonshire with Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire. Despite these concerns, Milton Keynes councillors voted against pursuing the wider South Midlands model. Local government minister Jim McMahon acknowledged the preference for a broader agreement but indicated no intention to revisit the decision. The debate highlights tensions between administrative boundaries and economic realities in regional devolution plans.
Read the full story: Bedford Today news.
Source: Bedford Today news. Aggregated summary, not independent reporting.