Ipswich MP buoyant, Suffolk County Council furious as government scraps £500m Suffolk devolution deal

The big picture: The deal aimed to give Suffolk more control over local matters like housing, transport, and adult education.

It was widely expected before the general election that the deal would go ahead but the new Labour government has decided not to move forward, with the BBC citing apparent concerns on the level of ambition, sources of funding and the idea of directly elected council leaders who would be answerable to his or her party.

What is devolution? Devolution involves transferring certain powers and responsibilities from the central UK government to local authorities. The idea is that it allows regions to have more control over local issues while national matters remain under central government control.

Key aspects of the scrapped deal:

• £480m investment fund over 30 years

• Control of the £9.4m annual Adult Education Budget

• £5.8m one-off funding for brownfield site development

• Multi-year transport funding plus £500,000 over two years for transport planning

• A directly elected leader for Suffolk County Council

Public opinion: Devolution has always been a somewhat contentious topic:

• An independent Ipsos poll found 63% of Suffolk residents supported the deal, with 7% against it and 30% unsure, but a Suffolk County Council survey showed just 49% were in favor, 40% were against and 11% were unsure.

• No survey of just Ipswich residents was conducted.

Pros of devolution include:

• Increased local decision-making power

• Potential for more tailored solutions to local issues

• Additional funding for local projects

Cons of devolution include:

• Potential for increased bureaucracy

• Possible inconsistencies in policy across regions

• Concerns about local government's capacity to handle new responsibilities

• Potential conflicts of interests within the county on key local policy and funding decisions

What they said in May 2024: Speaking about the deal as Labour's Ipswich candidate back in May 2024, Jack Abbott, said: "The deal currently on the table is little more than a sticking plaster, and could result in a political stalemate for nearly half a decade."

What they're saying now: Cllr Matthew Hicks, Leader of Suffolk County Council, expressed his dismay over the decision. He said, “This feels like a real slap in the face for Suffolk from a Government that won’t listen to what local people are saying. Our proposed devolution deal—which has widespread public support—is in the bin.”

He emphasised that local governments are best placed to serve their communities and described the decision as “a sad day for democracy.”

In response, Abbott stated: "The reality is, the deal put on the table by the previous Conservative government shortchanged Suffolk and created a bizarre political settlement.

“I'm much more ambitious for Suffolk - I believe we deserve our fair share - so it is welcome that the new Government will review this devolution settlement and come back with a proper agreement that values our great county.”

What's next: Suffolk County Council will publish the full consultation report on the proposed deal in October.

The bottom line: While the devolution deal had widespread public support, its cancellation means Suffolk will not receive the promised funding and increased local control over key issues affecting residents' daily lives.