Staffordshire and Shropshire for devo 'county set'?

Telford's decision to link up with the Black Country comes as a serious blow to the county that surrounds it, Shropshire

Town vs country

Suddenly, from far beyond our city limits, comes a chorus of "me too's". Something is stirring in the shires of England and it's all because they feel they're in danger of being overlooked in what George Osborne calls the "Devolution Revolution".

The County Councils Network point out that more than 50% of England's population live in the counties, which together contribute 40% of the UK economy's Gross Value Added. And yet the prime focus of the 'devo' agenda has been on the cities.

It is exactly a year since the Conservative leader of Worcestershire County Council Adrian Hardman told me: "Empowering the city regions is essential to any English devolution settlement. But the great counties of England have an equal role in securing the economic success of the United Kingdom."

For the record, his county is home to the likes of Worcester Bosch, the Morgan Motor Company, Malvern Instruments, Brinton's Carpets and many other household names besides.

And yet in the 12 months since then, it is the urban areas which are increasingly seizing the initiative.

As plans continue apace for the seven giant metropolitan councils to establish a pan-conurbation West Midlands Combined Authority, we can now add Telford and Wrekin to the list of neighbouring authorities who would like to pally-up to it as associate members. They see this as their big opportunity to have a share of the new devolved political and spending powers. Significantly though, as 'non-constituent' members they would not fall within the ambit of a directly-elected mayor. That distinction would be reserved exclusively for the seven core authorities: (David Cameron told me last month that if they want to have their own version of 'devo max', they must sign-up for an elected mayor to deliver the "appropriate level of accountability").

"Is Telford in Shropshire?"

Telford's decision to link up with the Black Country comes as a serious blow to Shropshire, the county that surrounds it. The new town is by far the biggest centre of business, commercial and industrial gravity. Its population of more than 170,000 is more than half that of the surrounding, predominantly rural, county.

No wonder the Conservative MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, Daniel Kawczynski, has told the Shropshire Star he is "disappointed" that Telford and Wrekin have, in effect, ruled out a collaboration with Shropshire. "Is Telford in Shropshire or the Black Country?" he asked, in a thinly-veiled rhetorical question.

Whatever the sheer geography, Telford has longstanding links with the conurbation: it is just a short drive along the M54 from the i-54 business park, home to an impressive array of major league cutting-edge employers including the Jaguar Land Rover engine plant.

Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski has told the Shropshire Star he is "disappointed" Telford and Wrekin have, in effect, ruled out a collaboration with Shropshire

Piggy in the middle?

Shropshire may not be the only county at risk of missing out. Could Staffordshire also find itself as the 'piggy in the middle' between the much-hyped Northern Economic Powerhouse and an emerging Midlands Economic Engine?

Now comes the counter-offensive.

Across their respective county borders, the Conservative leader of Shropshire Council Keith Barrow agrees with his party colleagues, the Staffordshire MPs Gavin Williamson (Staffordshire South) and Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford), that their counties should not link up with Birmingham and the Black Country. Councillor Barrow tells the 'Shropshire Star': "We have been involved in a conversation with Staffordshire for a long time now. We think it has potential and we want to be part of the conversation and see where it goes. We have a lot of synergy with Staffordshire."

(There has even been talk of Shropshire-Staffordshire forming a partnership with Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, although the two East Midlands councils told us they were unaware of any concrete proposals.)

If it's "a conversation" Councillor Barrow wants, we are going to give him one. Our BBC Shropshire Political Reporter Joanne Gallacher will be talking to him on this weekend's Sunday Politics, and I will be joined in the studio by his Staffordshire Conservative counterpart, Philip Atkins.

Why not join us and find out what we all have to say for ourselves?

Sunday Politics is in its usual 11.00 slot on BBC One Midlands this Sunday 25 October 2015.