“Political ideology getting in the way of doing what is right”

POLITICAL ideology is getting in the way of doing what is right for residents of Warrington, according to the Liberal Democrat group on the borough council.
Group leader Bob Barr says Warrington North Labour MP Helen Jones and her colleagues seem “paranoid” about getting a Conservative elected Mayor if the borough joined in a devolution deal with Cheshire.
Cllr Barr was responding to the news, reported last week, that a task group set up by the borough council is to recommend the council to join forces with Liverpool rather than Cheshire.
He said: “The MP for Warrington North has made it very clear she favours a deal with Liverpool.
“As her friends on the council have a majority on the task group it is
hardly surprising that the task group is recommending a deal with Liverpool.
“Liverpool might like a deal with Warrington because our strengths will give them more weight in their ‘rivalry’ with Manchester.
“But can you see an elected mayor for Greater Liverpool spending money in Warrington’s less well off areas when there are areas of higher need in Merseyside?”
Cllr Barr said the Liberal Democrats strongly favour a deal with the two Cheshire authorities – Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council.
“This would give us access to much needed funding for Warrington several years earlier.
“The MP and her colleagues on the council seem paranoid about the possibility of a Conservative elected mayor. Political ideology is getting in the way of doing what is right for the residents of Warrington.”
Cllr Barr said it seemed likely that the Government may now relax its demand for an elected mayor – originally part of the devolution deal.
“We now await with interest the recommendation of the council’s executive board.
“Will the leader and his cabinet ignore the task group and do the sensible thing and continue with the ready-to-go deal with the Cheshires”.
According to the Liberal Democrats, the Task Group voted 4-3 in favour of recommending that Warrington join with Liverpool – with one Labour member voting against with the Liberal Democrat and Conservative members.