BLACKBURN with Darwen’s Labour political leader is urging the borough’s two MPs to back his call for a new all-purpose Pennine Lancashire super-council.

Cllr Mohammed Khan has also written to local government secretary Robert Jenrick urging him to start the process of creating a combined authority for the county with an elected mayor and three unitary authorities below it.

Cllr Khan’s letters to the cabinet minister, Rossendale and Darwen Tory MP Jake Berry and his Blackburn Labour counterpart Kate Hollern come despite Burnley Council resolving to oppose any merger with Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Pendle and Rossendale. The Pennine Lancashire plan is backed by Tory county council leader Cllr Geoff Driver as necessary for a combined authority to work.

Cllr Khan said: “We desperately need funding into Lancashire both for strategic investment through a combined authority, but also to deliver everyday council services.

“We can achieve this by abolishing the existing borough councils and forming a brand new, larger council that will see the best policies and practices across the area align and ensure citizens receive the same good quality services irrespective of where they live.

“I am urging our MPs to lobby their political colleagues to ensure we can have early discussions with ministers.”