DEVON’S new MPs are to press for a better devolution deal for the county – and will try to persuade Plymouth to get back on board.

The previous Conservative government confirmed Devon devolution arrangements earlier this year, with Devon County Council and Torbay Council going into partnership as a Combined County Authority (CCA).

The new partnership would have more power and influence to negotiate tens of millions of pounds from the government for major projects in areas including transport and education.

The money is also designed to help the county meet its environmental targets.

But some of Devon’s local authorities have expressed serious misgivings about being part of the CCA, saying it gives too much power to Torbay and far too little to district councils such as Teignbridge and South Hams. Plymouth City Council pulled out of the deal altogether, saying it would leave the city with less power to decide on its own issues.

Since the Conservatives were deposed at the general election last month, some of Devon’s new MPs have been lobbying the Labour government for reassurances over the future of £16 million of funding pledged by the previous administration.

Martin Wrigley, the Liberal Democrat MP for Newton Abbot, says Devon’s representatives can make a difference. Nine of the 13 MPs serving Devon constituencies are new to the job, and five of them are Liberal Democrats.

Mr Wrigley plans to liaise closely with the county’s other MPs.

“I think we can use that to work for our communities,” he said. “I’m going to be working closely with the others, and by forming a group of Devon MPs, we can make sure we get good deals for the county as we move forward. 

“The previous devolution deal was not a very good one. We’ve got to see if we can try to get something much better that will really help the residents of Devon.

“I’m looking forward to good cooperation, not only with my Lib Dem neighbours, but also with all of the MPs in Devon.”

Mr Wrigley said it is important to keep the devolution deal at the top of the agenda. But, he added: “The devolution deal that was just Devon and Torbay was clearly not the right thing for the entire county.

“I want to see something that’s more inclusive, that probably brings Plymouth back into the story instead of having them outside.

“It could be Plymouth, Exeter, Devon, Torbay, maybe even Cornwall, and it might even be further afield. There has been talk of a ‘Great South West’ idea, looking at Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, which is a powerful route. Together we have some real power.

“I don’t know where we’ll go, but we’ll certainly have those conversations.”

Guy Henderson