LANCASHIRE is on track to have an elected mayor in return for more powers and cash from Whitehall.

Simon Blackburn, who heads the shadow combined authority for the county, believes the new political structure is vital to unlock new resources from the government.

He has been given qualified backing by the leaders of Hyndburn and Pendle councils, councillors Miles Parkinson and Mohammed Iqbal.

They will accept the shake-up provided it brings millions of pounds of extra cash from central government and the power to make decisions about spending it.

With other areas of England squabbling, Lancashire could be the first shire county to make the move.

Cllr Blackburn, leader of Blackpool Council, said: “I think we are clearly heading towards the position of an elected mayor for Lancashire.

“If you ask people do they want more politicians, the answer is ‘no’.

“If you ask them do you want an elected Mayor and £1billion to spend on services and transport, they say ‘yes’.

“This is what the government wants, so it’s the only game in town.”

Cllr Blackburn was speaking before a meeting of all 15 of Lancashire’s council leaders at County Hall Preston, the first attended by Wyre borough boss Peter Gibson, who opposes the merger, for months.

The meeting was also attended by the leaders of Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Ribble Valley, Rossendale and Lancashire County councils, who all support the idea in principle.

Collectively they said they are prepared to lose powers and cash if the combined authority can get a good deal under the government’s ‘Northern Powerhouse’ devolution proposals.

Cllr Parkinson said: “If we get get real sums of money and real powers from Whitehall for an elected Mayor, I would support it.”

Cllr Iqbal said: “The people of Pendle want to see more money to invest in the borough and the county and real power over spending it. If the price for that is an elected Mayor, I would support one.

“But if there is no real devolution, we would have to consider very carefully.”

Yesterday’s meeting discussed the outlines of a deal for an elected mayor with Greater Manchester and the Liverpool city region holding elections for the post in May.

London has had a directly-elected mayor since 2000.

Cllr Blackburn said: “Can we imagine the elected mayors of Greater Manchester and Merseyside are striding up Downing Street while Lancashire continues to speak with 15 voices?

“I can’t really think that’s going to work.”