A group of Tory MPs have written to the prime minister urging him to “fast track” the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, over fears it may run out of parliamentary time.
The MPs, from the East Midlands, worry that flagship devolution deals will not be completed if the bill fails to become legislation before the next general election.
From May 2024 a devolution deal is supposed to deliver new powers and spending to a newly-created combined authority in the East Midlands of four local councils, overseen by a mayor, but it depends on the bill being passed in time.
The MPs have said that “this must happen urgently, before the summer,” calling the deal “an issue of critical national importance”.
The passage of the bill, which also includes changes to planning rules, has been complicated by a significant number of amendments.
Levelling up secretary Michael Gove’s team admitted that there was “a risk” that passage of the bill could be delayed beyond the summer because of the time it is taking to pass through the House of Lords.
