A campaign to break away the Keighley and Shipley Parliamentary constituencies from Bradford Council gained pace today – as MPs debated conditions for a referendum and secured a meeting with a Government minister to progress the campaign.
Under plans set out by Keighley MP Robbie Moore in his Local Boundaries (Referendums) Bill, a referendum would be triggered if 10 per cent of residents signed a petition.
Leading the debate in Parliament he said his constituents “feel completely forgotten about” by Bradford Council. Mr Moore said they have been failed on issues such as parking in Ilkley, closing the Tourist Information Centre in Haworth whilst keeping the less popular centre in Bradford open, and wanting to build on green spaces across his constituency. Furthermore, his constituents were used as a “cash cow” for council tax revenue which funded city-centre projects.
Mr Moore said: “In all four corners of my constituency, from Ilkley to The Worth Valley, from Silsden to Keighley and everywhere else, the message is clear that Bradford Council are failing them, and that it’s time for a new local authority to focus on local issues.
It is important to make the positive case for the opportunities which could arise from a new local authority. The economic development of our towns has been held back by Bradford Council, including a failure to apply for Government funding to regenerate the town. With a new local authority, we can finally begin to see progress on the projects which we so desperately want to see, such as the much-needed footbridge between Steeton and Silsden.
I will not stop in my determination for a new local authority for my constituents. They deserve a council which will stand up for them, not hold them back, and I look forward to giving everything I can to make sure this happens.”
The sentiments were echoed by Shipley MP Philip Davies who said he would support a referendum of the entire district if needed. He said Bradford district was too big an area and decisions needed to be taken more locally.
Mr Davies added: “Local Government should be all about being local and being as local as possible. What is the point of it if it is so big in area that people feel no affinity to the area, it is completely pointless? This Bill would mean our two constituencies would be able to petition to set up a new local authority and if the majority want to see it happen, it would. Who can be against that form of local democracy?
My constituents do not want to be part of Bradford council frankly”.
Mr Davies also listed a catalogue of failings saying the Council was “either wholly incompetent or did not care about his constituents”, pointing to no prepared bid for levelling up fund for Bingley and the delays into the feasibility study for the Shipley Eastern Bypass.
Local Government Minister Kemi Badenoch agreed to meet with the MPs to discuss how they can work with the Government on their campaign to take their constituencies out of Bradford Council.
During the debate both MPs criticised Bradford Council’s failings over Child Sexual Exploitation and also highlighted that the economic regeneration of both constituencies are being held back by Bradford Council with its continual focus on applying for funding for the city centre not Keighley or Shipley constituencies.
