Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he is "prepared to look at" Devon reorganisation

The prime minister, Andy Burnham, has suggested he may reconsider some aspects of the sweeping changes to local government that are being introduced in Devon.

The Prime Minister was replying to a question asked by Conservative MP for South West Devon, Rebecca Smith, who said constituents were "devastated" by what the changes might mean.

Rebecca Smith MP for South West Devon 

Rebecca Smith asked the PM: "How can that version of local government reorganisation produce growth in every postcode?

"I urge him to revisit that decision with the minister responsible because quite frankly, constituents across rural Devon are devastated by what it might mean for them."

Prime Minister Andy Burnham 

The Prime Minister replied that he was "prepared to look at local government reorganisation". He said: "I'll ask the communities secretary to do that.

"Where possible we need as much consent as we can get - if she's telling me we need to work harder to find that then I'm always prepared to do what I can."

Smith has worked with Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon, Caroline Voaden, on petitions against the proposals which have gathered more than 6,000 signatures.

Caroline Voaden MP for South Devon

Caroline Voaden said: “Ask anyone with actual knowledge of Devon and they will tell you that Labour’s carve-up of the county is completely unworkable. It is patently clear a rural authority at the scale of the proposed Devon Council, with a road network comparable in size to Luxembourg, won’t be able to deliver services effectively or affordably.

“There is a reason why so many who participated in the consultation rejected Labour’s proposal. That the government is pressing ahead despite these results shows the bad faith this whole process has been conducted under.

“I have been contacted by hundreds of constituents this summer who are deeply worried about the risk these changes pose to local services. Their voices should count just as much as those of Labour politicians in Exeter and Plymouth.

“Devolution should be built from the ground up, not imposed by Whitehall. This plan makes a mockery of those beliefs and is not what rural Devon wants.”