A CAMPAIGN to break away the Shipley and Keighley Parliamentary constituencies from Bradford Council and form a new authority gained pace this week after two district MPs laid down Bills in Parliament calling for a referendum.

Residents would be given a vote to decide whether to stay under Bradford Council control or not, under the legislation put forward by Shipley MP Philip Davies and Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore.

Mr Davies said: “Many of my constituents tell me they do not feel Bradford Council cares about the Shipley constituency and get short changed. Bradford Council covers an area which is too big and we need a local Council which is completely dedicated to serving the best interests of my constituency and that of the Keighley constituency. Local government should be truly local and a new local Council would ensure money raised in the Shipley and Keighley constituencies was spent here.

“It would also mean local planning decisions would be taken by local councillors instead of by Bradford which would protect our greenbelt, which Bradford Council has been concreting over for too long. A separate council would end the focus being on Bradford town centre schemes, projects, and businesses.”

Mr Davies’ City of Bradford (Referendum on Shipley and Keighley) Bill would allow a vote on whether to keep the status quo or if two separate authorities would better serve the needs of the area. Mr Moore’s Local Authority Boundaries (Referendums) Bill would enable parliamentary constituencies to form new unitary local authority areas if agreed by referendum.

Mr Moore said: “Too often do I hear that things in the Keighley and Ilkley constituency are not getting done because of Bradford Council. Decisions are being made in Bradford City, for Bradford City. Local authorities need to work for all areas of their districts, not just the area with the largest population. That is why more power needs to be given to local people about how best their council serves them.

“Having a council that is more local to the Keighley and Ilkley constituency would mean that more time and money is spent in our area, whether that is by keeping our open green spaces green like on North Street, or sorting out disastrous parking schemes as we have seen in Ilkley.”

Both Bills have now received their formal first reading and will return to Parliament for second reading on Friday February 25 next year.

Reacting to the MPs' campaign Councillor Doreen Lee, Labour Councillor for Keighley East, said: “I am a proud Keighleyan, I love the place. I’m also honoured to be the outgoing Lord Mayor for the whole Bradford district which includes the great town of Keighley. I believe in bringing people together, not wrenching them apart. It’s really sad that our two Conservative MPs spend all their time sowing discord and dividing communities. At a time like this I’d like to see our MPs speaking up for the whole district and bringing people together. This latest stunt of theirs in parliament is just another gimmick, it will lead to nothing except more leaflets for their elections next year. But in the meantime the real work goes on here in Keighley with councillors of all parties, as part of our communities, working to keep people safe during the pandemic, to get more jobs, and to be a support for residents in these times of need. I believe in actions not words.”