Conservative MP likens proposed East Anglian mayor to Nazi official

'To disparage these new valuable freedoms to improve day-to-day life in our counties in the context of 1930s Germany is wrong and unhelpful'

Sir Henry Bellingham, Conservative MP for North-West Norfolk (PA)

A Conservative MP has likened a proposed directly elected mayor for Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to a "Gauleiter", a regional Nazi party leader in 1930s Germany.

Sir Henry Bellingham, MP for North-West Norfolk, made clear his opposition to the plan, which is designed to devolve greater power to the regions.

"What we don’t need is a really expensive, costly elected mayor with a fourth tier of local government," he told local TV.

His comments were criticised by Conservative councillor John Fuller, the leader of South Norfolk Council, who claimed it was "wrong" to compare East Anglian devolution with Germany under Nazi rule.

"The purpose of a combined authority under a mayor is not to dilute local sovereignty by taking away powers already exercised to local authorities or to MPs, but to enhance it by devolving to local people new functions that are currently exercised remotely by central government," he told the Cambs Times.

"I am yet to meet a person who disagrees that government giving us more money to pay for infrastructure to be delivered alongside the building of new homes or to give us powers to streamline bus and train ticketing is a bad idea.

"To disparage these new valuable freedoms to improve day-to-day life in our counties in the context of 1930s Germany is wrong and unhelpful."

The proposed mayor would be responsible for transport, strategic planning and skills training across the three counties.

He or she would have the power to increase business rates to pay for infrastructure projects.

They would be answerable to a cabinet of 23 nominees from each of the 23 councils.

The Independent has contacted Sir Henry for comment.