Mayor for Cornwall proposals 'like Groundhog Day'

Plans to introduce a Mayor for Cornwall were dropped last year after proving unpopular

The idea of an elected mayor for Cornwall could be back on the table, the leader of Cornwall Council has warned.

The government said it wanted to see more elected mayors introduced as part of devolving more powers to new regional combined authorities.

A previous devolution bid for the duchy was abandoned last year because of a lack of public support for an elected mayor.

However, the council's leader, Conservative Linda Taylor, admitted: "If that [a mayor] is the condition of getting devolution, we will have to discuss it."

Devolution deals

In a letter to local councils, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the government would not impose mayors - but encouraged authorities to consider their advantages.

The government indicated most devolution deals would require councils to come together to submit a joint bid to form a combined authority.

Cornwall Council stressed it would put in a bid for devolution in its own right instead of working with other neighbours in south-west England.

However, Mrs Taylor admitted any devolution agreement could come with requirements for a mayor attached again, as previous applications for government funding had done, including under the Conservatives.

She said: "It is quite clear the Labour government understand mayors.

"That is how they do business and that is to be expected.

She said it was "very much like Groundhog Day", in reference to the movie which sees a day repeating itself.

Liberal Democrat Group leader Colin Martin insists a mayor for Cornwall is not needed

Opposition councillors across Cornwall have spoken out against the idea returning for a mayor.

Liberal Democrat Colin Martin argued: "If the prime minister says: 'When I pick up the phone and speak to Cornwall, who do I call?' then we already have a unitary authority and one leader."

Independent Julian German agreed: "We can get the best deal for Cornwall without a mayor."

Dick Cole, leader of the Mebyon Kernow and Green group on the council, said: "We do not want them to just play around with Cornwall as a local government unit with or without a mayor. It has got to be more than tweaks."

However, Labour Group leader Kate Ewert conceded: "A mayor for Cornwall is something that needs to be put to the people.

"We need to explore what is on offer and go from there."

The council previously said it was to submit a White Paper in September, outlining its plans for more devolution for Cornwall.