West Northamptonshire leader expresses disappointment over South Midlands devolution decision

The leader of West Northamptonshire Council has expressed disappointment at the Government's decision not to pursue a South Midlands Strategic Authority.

22 October 2026

The decision was communicated yesterday by Jim McMahon OBE MP, Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth, who acknowledged the Northamptonshire authorities' preference for a South Midlands Strategic Authority but stated that he was "not minded to further explore this option" and would support a BLMK (Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes) footprint.

The announcement comes despite analysis from the South Midlands Business Board concluding that the six-council South Midlands geography is the only configuration in the region that meets the Government's stated population threshold for a strategic authority, encompassing almost 1.9 million residents and generating more than £60.5 billion in economic output each year.

The Business Board also found that the six-council South Midlands model could support more than £40 million a year in investment funding capacity, equivalent to around £1.2 billion over 30 years, helping to unlock growth, infrastructure improvements, transport investment and new opportunities for residents and businesses.

For local residents, the debate is about far more than council structures. It is about securing investment in roads, public transport, skills, jobs and economic growth. Supporters of the South Midlands approach argue that a larger strategic authority would have provided a stronger voice with Government and a better opportunity to attract funding and investment into Northamptonshire and the wider region.

Following the Government’s announcement, Leader of West Northamptonshire Council Cllr Mark Arnull, addressed an Extraordinary Meeting of Milton Keynes City Council on the subject of Devolution.

As part of his address, Cllr Arnull said: “If devolution is about economic reality and not administrative convenience, why are West Northants and North Northants Councils not part of the conversation?

“Milton Keynes, your city, isn’t an island. People commute between Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes, and the wider region of Bedford and Central Beds. Businesses recruit across our borders, the M1, the A5, our labour market, our housing market, and our investment opportunities are very much aligned, and these are opportunities that bind us together.

“Bedford, Central Beds, Luton, Milton Keynes have worked together through the South Midlands Authorities partnership for some time, and some of you will remember the SEMLEP footprint before.”

While the Government's letter states that a South Midlands Strategic Authority does not command the support of all councils within the proposed geography, it inevitably raises the same question about alternative models. If consent and local support are to be the determining factors, it remains unclear whether a Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes arrangement commands the support of every authority within that geography.

Indeed, a motion to the Extraordinary Meeting, Cllr Shazna Muzammil wrote: “There is not a settled consensus across the wider South Midlands around a Bedford, Luton, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Strategic Authority.”

And during the meeting she said: “Central Beds administration was supported by their Lib Dem colleagues to defeat a proposal of BLMK. The Mayor in Bedford stated that they too don’t support BLMK but support the six.”

Ultimately the motion in favour of exploring a South Midlands Authorities model further was defeated by 35 votes to 18 with one abstention.

Speaking following the meeting in Milton Keynes, Cllr Arnull said: "While we are disappointed by the Government's decision not to pursue a South Midlands Strategic Authority, we remain convinced that it represents the strongest and most economically coherent option for our area.

"The evidence presented by the South Midlands Business Board demonstrates the scale, strength and potential of the South Midlands economy. A geography of almost 1.9 million people and more than £60 billion of economic output provides a compelling case for devolution built around economic reality rather than administrative convenience.

"The Government's decision raises important questions about how local support is being assessed. The South Midlands proposal has the backing of both Northamptonshire authorities and the support of business leaders across the region. We also believe it has wider support within the BLMK footprint. Those voices should be given significant weight when considering the long-term economic future of the area.

"We will continue to engage constructively with Government and neighbouring authorities to secure the best possible devolution settlement for our residents, businesses and communities."