Keighley and Ilkley’s MP Robbie Moore is set to meet with government Ministers to discuss the next steps in his campaign for Keighley and Ilkley to regain its independence from Bradford Council.
It comes after the local MP raised the issue with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during Prime Minister’s Questions this week, arguing that the Labour-run Council has “failed to represent the best interests” of residents and that his constituents “want out”.
The MP pointed to the Council being stripped of its responsibility for Children’s Services, it’s refusal to launch a Rotherham-style review into Child sexual exploitation in the District, and its council tax investment decisions as examples of recent Council failures.
Responding to Mr Moore, the Prime Minister said he agreed with Mr Moore that Bradford Council “should be working to ensure that it delivers good services” for Keighley and Ilkley and confirmed that he would arrange a meeting between the local MP and Ministers from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, who are responsible for government decisions on local authorities.
Mr Moore hopes to see smaller unitary authorities being created, first proposed through his Local Authority Boundaries (Referendums) Bill, saying after PMQ's that "this isn’t a red or blue issue".
Speaking after Prime Minister’s questions, Mr Moore said:
“We deserve better from our local leaders. That’s why I want to see Keighley and Ilkley reclaim our independence from Bradford Council, who are so clearly failing to represent our best interests.
Whether it is ignoring local referendums in Keighley and Ilkley or their recent decision to ride roughshod over residents in Silsden on new housing, residents are fed up with Bradford Council ignoring our area and constantly trying to shift the blame for their own failures.
The reality is that their catastrophic failures on Children’s Services, their refusal to instigate a review into child sexual exploitation in our District and their inability to invest our own council tax back into our area are all failures which lie squarely with the Council itself.
This isn’t a red or blue issue. This is about fighting for a Council that puts local people first over a Council that does not."
I look forward to my meeting with Ministers and further discussions with the Prime Minister on this issue, where I will stand up for our area and make our case for a truly local authority.”
