Wednesday 16 May 2012

Town's Lib Dems are not backing city bid

MP Kelvin Hopkins (right) at at the bid launch last month
MP Kelvin Hopkins (right) at at the bid launch last month
 

Liberal democrats are not sipporting Luton’s city status bid – but they are over in Milton Keynes.

The Party’s 17-strong contingent at Luton Borough Council is sceptical as to the benefits of trying to upgrade the town’s official standing at a cost of £50,000.

But that is clearly not the case at nearby Milton Keynes, where 22 Lib Dem councillors have given its proposals the thumbs-up.

Last month Luton North’s Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins hosted a special event in Westminster to launch the official city status bid, with town chiefs forecasting a £5 billion potential windfall if it is successful.

Lib Dem leader David Franks said: “We do understand city status bid would bring some prestige, no doubt.

“At a time when the council is cutting back on services for children and older people, is this the right time to spend large sums of money on a city status bid? It is £50,000 for this year, and it could well be more next year to put the case to the Government.”
 
But this week Lib Dem councillor Andy Strange said: “When we are dealing with public money, we’re asking the question of whether this should be a priority for the council.
 

“MK is a completely different town to Luton. I’m not sure you can make a direct comparison. If they think it’s a good idea over there, then they think it’s a good idea.

“We are questioning this not because we don’t want to promote Luton – that would be ridiculous.”
 
The council’s Labour leader, Hazel Simmons, said: “Feedback from recent new cities is that city status is potentially worth billions to the local economy through inward investment.
 

“Sunderland lists its advantages as 30,000 additional jobs created, with inward investment reported at £5 billion.

“Newport has become a sporting city and has seen the Ryder Cup brought to the town.”

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