Council leaders 'interested' in devolution deal

Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness councils said they had expressed an interest in devolution

A county could be the latest to take a devolution deal after two council leaders formally expressed their interest.

Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council have jointly written to the government to explore the process for Cumbria, which could include having an elected mayor.

In a joint statement the authorities said the choice to explore a joint approach reflected "our shared history and areas of strategic interest".

However, both councils said expressing an interest in the process was not a "commitment" to devolution.

The two authorities officially came into power last year and replaced a two-tier model with a county council for Cumbria operating alongside six district councils.

A devolution agreement, which would give more powers locally, would not affect the previous government's decision to create the new councils.

They said joint working was already happening, including the creation of a new Cumbria Economic Growth Board.

Cumbria is one of a few area in the North not to have a devolution deal.

The government wrote to both councils after the general election in July asking them to submit their interest by 30 September.