Commenting on the Government's announced local government reorganisation for Devon, former Torbay MP, Kevin Foster said:
“This is what happens when a council cannot decide and a government cannot resist a gerrymander.
Under Julian Brazil, the Liberal Democrats failed to produce a coherent plan, while some of their councillors, sitting on both county and district councils, backed two contradictory proposals at the same time.
Labour has rewarded Exeter and Plymouth in an attempt to shore up its waning urban strongholds, leaving rural Devon as the poor relation. Rural services cost more to deliver, yet funding follows population density, meaning rural residents will pay more and get less.
Where are the savings we were promised? Instead of streamlining local government, Ministers have chosen a more expensive option. Devon will now have four councils instead of one.
Devon residents are paying twice: first for Liberal Democrat indecision, and now for Labour's politically motivated carve-up.”
