MP accuses West Midlands mayor of 'gerrymandering' in combined authority row

Matt Western, the MP for Warwick and Leamington, says residents should get a say on whether to join the combined authority

An MP has accused a Conservative mayor of trying to shore up his own re-election next year by supporting a bid to bring a Tory-led council into the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Warwickshire County Council agreed to review the possibility in a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Labour MP Matt Western has started a petition in protest, accusing mayor Andy Street of "naked gerrymandering".

Mr Street said the decision was up to Warwickshire's councillors.

"I'm not trying to annex Warwickshire. The leaders of Warwickshire are deciding what is in their long-term interests," he told the BBC's Politics Midlands programme.

Following the cabinet's agreement, council officers will now look at the pros and cons of joining.

Andy Street, West Midlands mayor since 2017, has said the decision is one for Warwickshire councillors

At present, seven councils make up the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), with four under Labour control and three ruled by the Conservatives.

In 2021 the Tories secured a large majority on Warwickshire County Council with 42 of the 57 seats.

If it joined the WMCA, it would mean extra voters in a traditionally Conservative-voting area able to cast their ballots in the 2024 mayoral election.

'Naked gerrymandering'

Mr Western's petition is calling for a referendum, saying Warwickshire residents did not want the decision "imposed upon them" by councillors and added the mayor was playing "political games".

"It is, at its very worst, naked gerrymandering by Andy Street, the mayor of the WMCA, for his own ends," said the Warwick and Leamington MP.

"The public should come first in this, they're the ones who should have their say. That's why I believe we should have a referendum in May next year for the public to decide."

Andy Street, who was re-elected as mayor in 2021, denied claims he was seeking an electoral benefit and told the BBC it was a decision for leaders in Warwickshire.

Adding that he supported the move, he said: "The combined authority's been a success. It's brought in a lot of investment and clearly it's a good thing if other people want to be part of that club."

Warwickshire County Council leader Izzi Seccombe told the BBC it was "right and proper" for the authority to consider joining.

"I am a collaborative leader so this isn't just about Warwickshire, it has to be of benefit as well to the West Midlands," she added.

Warwickshire County Council leader, Conservative Izzi Seccombe, will discuss joining the WMCA with cabinet members on Thursday

Each of the council leaders on the WMCA currently have a veto and Coventry City Council's George Duggins has previously said he would use his to oppose Warwickshire's inclusion.

But the Levelling Up Bill, set to be introduced later this year, could give the mayor and government secretary Michael Gove the final say.