Cornwall drops devolution deal with elected mayor after public ‘concern’

‘Significant concern’ about scheme from Levelling Up department

A Cornish flag flies at Perranporth (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Government-backed plans for a £360m devolution deal for Cornwall including an elected mayor have been abandoned due to public opposition.

Cornwall Council will no longer pursue the scheme, after 69% of respondents to an open public survey were against an elected mayor.

Council leader Linda Taylor said the Conservative-run authority would instead pursue a lesser deal that would come with less central government funding.